Three points: Guarding the three, spreading the wealth key for No. 10 Duke men’s basketball at N.C. State
Even though N.C. State has spent most of the season hovering in the middle of the ACC standings, Duke is not taking N.C. State lightly as it looks to secure the top spot in the ACC before the ACC tournament. Wolfpack guard DJ Horne is the team’s top scorer this season, averaging 17.6 points per game, so the Blue Devils need to keep a watch on him. The senior guard has been the offensive catalyst for the club, relying on his quick release to lead his team to wins against opponents like Miami and Clemson. N.C. State should struggle for the duration of the game if Duke is able to restrict his output early.
With a sizzling 43.1% shooting percentage from outside the 3-point arc, Horne has been extremely productive while shooting from beyond the arc. Tyrese Proctor, Jared McCain, and Jeremy Roach of the Blue Devils need to be ready for a challenging game and give the Wolfpack an opportunity to try to beat them in a different way. The Wolfpack won’t be able to match Duke’s offensive firepower, but expect N.C. State to do its hardest to get its best scorer clean looks.
Getting everyone involved early in the game should be crucial to taking the lead early on in the defense, even though stopping Horne seems to be essential. Under the leadership of rookie guard Jared McCain and sophomore center Kyle Filipowski, Duke comes into the contest with a plenty of offensive options and firepower. For the most part of the evening, the Blue Devils should aim to move the ball around quickly and let the hot hand lead them. Duke has been a persistent scorer of the basketball, averaging 80.3 points through the end of the season, while the Wolfpack has been a proficient squad, scoring the ball at an average of 76 points per game.
The Durham squad has found different answers in every single game this season and should be ready to do the same Monday night. Roach, McCain and Proctor have collectively shared a majority of the offensive production in the backcourt, giving Filipowski plenty of space to work down low. Expect a strong offensive performance and Filipowski to take over down the stretch, especially with his matchup on the Wolfpack bigs.
As has been the story of the Blue Devils’ season for the most part, Monday night’s turnover war between Duke and N.C. State will be vital. The Duke squad has had trouble stopping the opposition’s fast-break opportunities and guarding the ball during its losses. The Blue Devils can exert their influence on that end by controlling the ball and running their offense via Filipowski with the playmaking skills of the guards providing help.
The Durham favorites should have a straightforward task ahead of them as they are the more talented squad but cannot allow mistakes to derail their efforts, especially in a tough road environment. The Wolfpack will take full advantage of any openings Duke allows, and turnovers have been costly thus far into the season. N.C. State has averaged 7.6 steals per game and should look to jump into the passing lanes and run in transition to get the crowd going and upset the Blue Devils.
