Preview: #7 Duke Blue Devils (5-1) vs. Arkansas (4-3)

Overall Series is tied, 2-2
In Durham, NC —
at Cameron Indoor Stadium —
In Fayetteville, AR —
at Bud Walton Arena —
Neutral Sites 2-2
Last Meeting Duke, 78-69 (March 26, 2022)

TV / Stream ESPN
Play-by-Play Dan Shulman
Analyst Jay Bilas
Sideline Kris Budden
Producer Scott Matthews
Watch Link Watch Live

Radio Blue Devil Sports Net.
Play-by-Play David Shumate
Analyst John Roth
Engineer Chad Lampman
In Durham 96.5 FM & 620 AM
SiriusXM 84

The Razorbacks are fresh off of 2 straight losses and stand at 4-3. In need of a get right game the Blue Devils present an opportunity for Eric Musselman to right the ship. Junior guard Truman Mark leads a trio of double figure scorers for the Razorbacks. Mark leads the way with 18 points per game, while shooting 40% from 3-point range. Senior guard Khlaif Battle adds 15 points per game off the bench and Trevon Brazile rounds out the double-figure scoring at 10 points a game. Brazile leads the team in rebounds at 7.9 per game. Mark, Battle and Brazile all shoot 40% or higher from beyond the arc but as a team Arkansas shoots 33%.

Arkansas has attempted at least 25 free throws in six of seven games this season and made at least 20four times. They rank sixth in the NCAA (2nd in the SEC) in free throw attempts (28.9 avg.) and ninth in the NCAA (2nd in the SEC) in free throws made (20.4 avg.). Khalif Battle has played a key role in Arkansas ranking among the NCAA leaders in both free throw attempts and makes, he has gone to the line AN SEC-BEST 51 times to rank 14th in the NCAA. Battle has made AN SEC-BEST 42 free throws to rank 9th in the NCAA and ranks 9th in the SEC on FT% at 82.4%. Last season, Battle shot 89.9% from the line to rank 10th in the NCAA.

Defensively the Hogs are 7th in the nation in blocked shots, blocking an average of 63 per game.

The biggest question mark for Arkansas is the status around Tramon Mark, who was carted off the floor Saturday on a stretcher with a cervical collar on. An MRI which showed no significant injury to his back. Mark was unable to practice on Monday after suffering the injury in the Battle 4 Atlantis and is still being evaluated as of publishing this.

Closing out the first month of the 2023-24 season, Duke travels to Arkansas for its inaugural game in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Wednesday night. The matchup with Arkansas represents the third different power conference foe on Duke’s non-conference schedule, having already played Arizona (Pac-12) and Michigan State (B1G). The Blue Devils round out their power-conference tour with Baylor (Big 12) in December. Duke is coming off an 80-62 victory over Southern Indiana, capping off a 3-0 showing in the Blue Devil Challenge. Kyle Filipowski (right) led Duke’s efforts against the Screaming Eagles, scoring 21 points while grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds — including 10 on the defensive glass.

Filipowski leads the Blue Devils at 18.8 points and 8 rebounds per game. Sophomore Tyrese Proctor leads the Blue Devils in assists, averaging 5.7 per game and just 1.2 turnovers, Proctor also averages 12.5 points per game. Mark Mitchell and Jeremy Roach round out the double figure scorers for the Blue Devils at 12 and 11.5 points respectively.

As a team the Blue Devils are shooting 35.3% from beyond the arc and 20th in the country in total field goal percentage.

G Jeremy Roach 6’2, 180lbs SR
G Tyrese Proctor 6’5, 183lbs SO
G Jared McCain 6’3, 197lbs FR
F Mark Mitchell  6’9, 232lbs SO
C Kyle Filipowski 7’0, 248lbs SO

G Tramon Mark 6’6, 220lbs JR
G Layden Blocker 6’2, 175lbs FR
G Davonte Davis 6’4, 185lbs SR
F Makhi Mitchell 6’10, 240lbs RSR
F Trevon Brazile 6’10, 220lbs RSO

The strength of Arkansas is clearly their guards and their ability to get downhill and eventually to the free throw line. Top 10 in the country in attempts and makes, a large part of their identity is tied to the charity stripe. The Blue Devils have had instances this season where they have not being able to defend without fouling – Arkansas knows this and will do their best to force the issue. Playing straight up and maintaining verticality on drives will be important for Duke on Wednesday night.

Duke will have to do a much better job in ball movement early, slow starts on the road are a recipe for disaster – especially in Bud Walton. Duke has to walk a fine line of not settling for jump-shots but also knowing to take the good ones. If Duke can move the ball and cut to open space and not ball watch they can score the basketball and not suffer the lulls we’ve seen so far this season.

Duke will need an efficient Tyrese Proctor and aggressive games from both Kyle Filipowski and Mark Mitchell. Mitchell’s athleticism is going to be tested against the Razorbacks, the sophomore forward cannot take plays off against Arkansas – a team coming in motivated and desperate.