The college basketball world has been silent about it, but we all know that it is true: Duke is the best basketball team in the land.
If rankings were any indication, that would not be a true statement. Kentucky is ranked #1 in the country right now. But it is only a matter of time before the #4 Blue Devils are crowned as the kings of college basketball.
Duke is used to fast starts. Following a convincing 80-70 victory over the Badgers on Wednesday night, the Blue Devils now stand at 8-0.
8-0 isn’t anything special in college basketball, so what sets Coach K’s squad apart from the rest of the pack? Well, how about statement wins over both the Badgers and the Spartans in a three week span?
Beating the Wisconsin Badgers on their home floor, the Kohl Center, is like an NFL QB tossing seven touchdowns in a single game. It is rare, but when it does happen it is definitely a sight to behold.
Duke did just that, handing the #2 Badgers their first loss of the young season in a game that was dubbed as a Final Four preview. And to be honest, it certainly felt that way.
The Blue Devils outplayed the Badgers in every aspect of the game. They outhustled them. They outmuscled them. And, above all, they outsmarted them.
Leading the way for the Blue Devils was freshman point guard Tyus Jones. Despite being labeled a pass-first guard, Jones led all scorers with 22 points on 7-11 shooting. He also chipped in with 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
Jones wasn’t the only freshman that made an impact against the Badgers.
Jahlil Okafor, the #1 frosh in the country, was relatively quiet. Okafor has averaged 17.1 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game. On Wednesday night, he finished with a modest 13 points and 6 rebounds while in foul trouble. He did, however, show his might on both ends of the floor against fellow all-american big-man Frank Kaminsky.
Together, the two star freshmen tore the Badgers apart both mentally and physically. Thanks to their efforts, the Blue Devils earned another signature win that will look good on their tournament resume.
A total of three freshman make up Duke’s starting lineup. Those three players are Okafor, Jones, and Justise Winslow. On many teams, starting three freshmen would result in a complete disaster. However, the Blue Devils are making it work.
Why and how does it work, though?
Last year’s Duke team featured freshman Jabari Parker (now a rookie in the NBA), a transfer named Rodney Hood, and two senior guards, Tyler Thornton and Andre Dawkins. The team finished 26-9 and were shocked by Mercer in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Following the end of the season, all four of those players left.
This year’s Duke team is much different for two reasons: more depth and more chemistry.
I wouldn’t say that this year’s Duke team is more talented, but they do have more reinforcements.
Duke lacked an inside presence last season. Now they have Jahlil Okafor, a big-man that has been compared to the likes of Anthony Davis. Okafor has proven that he can bang with the best in the low post.
Then you have Amile Jefferson, a junior that has crashed the boards with a vengeance this year. Jefferson is currently leading the team in rebounds with just over 8 per game, while scoring nearly 9 points per game. His improvement on both ends of the floor have given a finesse team like the Blue Devils some much-needed beef.
When you combine that strength in the low post with a group of savvy guards, it is a recipe for success.
Although the Blue Devils are an inexperienced squad, they are definitely not immature.
Jones may get all the headlines in the Blue Devils backcourt, but Quinn Cook is the x-factor. Cook, a senior, has been overshadowed ever since he stepped on campus. He is Mike Krzyzewski’s kind of point guard. Cook plays the game the right way and rarely makes mistakes.
It’s amazing how well all this talent has meshed so far this season. The Blue Devils rank 2nd in the nation in points per game (89.1 points) and have only turned the ball over 75 times through 8 full games. Not bad, not bad at all.
Duke could improve defensively, but you really can’t complain when you are scoring nearly 90 points a game.
It may be too early to tell, but Coach K’s Blue Devils are on the right track. Are they the #1 team in the country? Well, everyone has their opinion.
However, one thing is for sure: the Blue Devils are a force to be reckoned with.
All stats courtesy of sports-reference.com/cbb
