Preview: #9 Duke Blue Devils (17-5, 8-3 ACC) vs. Boston College (13-9, 4-7 ACC)

Overall Duke leads, 28-3
In Durham, NC Duke leads, 13-0
at Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke leads, 13-0
In Chestnut Hill, MA Duke leads, 11-2
at Conte Forum Duke leads, 11-2
Neutral Sites Duke leads, 4-1
Last Meeting Duke 65, @BC 64 (Jan. 7, 2023)

TV/Video Stream ESPN
Play-by-Play Kevin Brown
Analyst Debbie Antonelli
Producer Kim Belton

Radio Blue Devil Sports Net.
Play-by-Play David Shumate
Analyst John Roth
Engineer John Rose
In Durham 96.5 FM & 620 AM
SiriusXM 162 or 193

BC enters Saturday with a 13-9 record overall and a record in the ACC of 4-7. The Eagles are coming off a 1 point loss to Florida State, before that loss the Eagles had won 2 straight. The Eagles rank sixth in the conference in all three shooting percentage categories: field goals (.462), 3-pointers (.360) and free throws (.748).

Boston College seven-foot forward/center Quinten Post ranks ninth in the ACC in scoring (16.4 ppg), eighth in rebounding (7.8 rpg), fourth in blocked shots (1.8 bpg) and sixth in field goal percentage (.510). BC junior guard Jaeden Zackery is the fifth-leading playmaker in the ACC with 4.3 assists per contest, and ranks eighth in the conference in steals (1.64 spg).

Player to Watch

Devin McGlockton is one of the ACC’s Most Improved Players, showing major jumps in several stat categories. Through 22 games, McGlockton is fourth on the Eagles in scoring (10.8) and second in rebounding (6.4) and blocks (1.1). McGlockton’s per game averages have increased across the board: scoring +4.7, rebounding +2.1, and blocked shots +0.4. In ACC play (11 games), McGlockton is averaging 13.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocked shots. Year-over-year, he has almost tripled his scoring (+8.0) and more than doubled his rebounding (+4.0) in ACC games. His .629 FG% (61-97) ranks second in ACC play; up from .500 a year ago. McGlockton registered the fifth-highest single-game scoring total in ACC play – a 30-point performance at Georgia Tech. He has logged two double-doubles this season, both in ACC play: at Syracuse (15p/14r) and at Virginia Tech (19p/10r) and has set new single-game career-highs in scoring (30), rebounding (14), and blocks (3) this year.

The Blue Devils roll into Saturday with an 17-5 record and a conference record of 8-3. Duke is currently 3rd in the ACC begind UNC and UVA. Duke defeated Notre Dame last time out. Duke is the only team to rank among the top four ACC statistical leaders in both scoring offense (2nd/80.7 points per game) and scoring defense (4th/67.7 points allowed per game). The Blue Devils lead the ACC in scoring margin (+13.0) and field goal percentage (.481).

Kyle Filipowski ranks seventh in scoring (17.3 ppg), sixth in rebounding (8.6 rpg), second in blocked shots (1.8 bpg) and eighth in field goal percentage (.496). After averaging 7.6 points per outing in the first eight games of the season, Jared McCain has reached the 20-point mark in six of the last 14 games, averaging 15.7 points per contest during that stretch. Mark Mitchell is averaging 14.1 points and 8.3 rebounds in his last eight games with three double-doubles in that time, including 13 points and 10 rebounds during Wednesday’s win over Notre Dame. Duke is 27-3 when Mitchell reaches double digits in the scoring column. Jeremy Roach tops the ACC and is 15th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (3.15), while Tyrese Proctor is positioned fifth in the conference and 45th nationally (2.69).

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

G Jaeden Zackery 6’2, 220lbs JR
G Chas Kelley III 6’3, 185lbs SO
F Devin McGlockton 6’7, 230lbs SO
F Prince Aligbe 6’7, 225lbs SO
C Quinten Post 7’0, 235lbs GR

Scoring:

Kyle Filipowski 17.2 PPG
Jeremy Roach 13.9 PPG
Jared McCain 12.8 PPG
Mark Mitchell 12.4 PPG
Tyrese Proctor 10.6 PPG

Rebounding:

Kyle Filipowski 8.5 RPG
Mark Mitchell 6.4 RPG

Assists:

Tyrese Proctor 3.7 APG
Jeremy Roach 3.0 APG

Scoring:

Quinten Post 16.4 PPG
Claudell Harris 14 PPG
Jaeden Zackery 11.6 PPG
Devin McGlockton 10.8 PPG

Rebounding:

Quinten Post 7.8 RPG
Devin McGlockton 6.4 RPG

Assists:

Jaeden Zackery 4.3 APG
Quinten Post 2.8 APG

Quinten Post is as dangerous a 7 footer as there is in the ACC. The grad student is a threat from both inside the paint and beyond the 3 point line.  Currently shooting 43% from beyond the arc he leads the Eagles in that category along with scoring and rebounding. Making sure not to give Post space is as important as guarding him in the post – for Kyle Filipowski being cognizant of picking up fouls – especially on the perimeter is something to watch. I’m dire the coaches are drilling into his head that you can always get 2 points back, you cannot get back a foul.

Devin McGlcockton can be a dangerous player against a team like Duke – Duke struggles to guard good shooting wings, in fact they tend to make average shooting wings into good shooting wings. The Blue Devils will have to do a much better job of choking off that possibility but staying connected on the defensive end.

The biggest thing the Blue Devils need to do has nothing to do with the other team – it has to do with what the Blue Devils do to themselves. When Duke loses or doesn’t play up to par it’s generally Duke getting in the way of Duke. A lack of intensity, bad offensive play and live ball turnovers. With a very small margin for error the Blue Devils need to be a much more assertive and value the basketball much more. Get shots within the flow of the offense but make your mark on the defensive end.