After each Duke men’s basketball game this season, check back here for the Player of the Game and more. Duke got back to its winning ways against Charlotte behind a dominant backcourt performance, and the Blue Zone analyzes the action:
Duke freshman guard Jared McCain enhanced his career night by grabbing three rebounds and three assists on 7-for-13 shooting, adding to a performance that saw him score a career-high 21 points. McCain was one of four Duke players to score in double figures, the other two being sophomore forward Mark Mitchell and veteran guards Jeremy Roach and Jaylen Blakes. Due to Tyrese Proctor’s injury, freshman guard Caleb Foster started the game. Despite this, the rookie duo did fairly well, led by McCain’s strong offensive performance.
In addition, McCain appeared to have a lot more confidence when driving the ball and getting past Charlotte’s defence. His three field goal attempts were his highest since he had five against Bucknell on November 17. Although the 49ers defence did not exert as much pressure on Duke’s offence or force turnovers, this performance is encouraging for the Sacramento, California native who had not played well in the previous two games. Not to mention, star centre Kyle Filipowski finished with just five points on 2-for-10 shooting from the field, which is the fewest points he has had thus far in the 2023–24 campaign. Igor Milicic, the imposing centre for Charlotte, played a critical role in forcing Filipowski to take uneasy shots. Although this was the
McCain has scored 9.1 points per game on average this season, shooting 39.4% from the field and 41% from 3-point range. McCain’s trouble has mostly come with his field goal shooting, even though his 3-point shooting has remained steady overall. McCain proved that he can shoot well from the field, which makes him a dangerous offensive threat. The team also had more transition points and more open lanes.
The Blue Devils’ victory allowed them to snap a recent losing streak and win their first game since defeating Southern Indiana on November 24. Duke is still trying to bounce back from its two consecutive losses and restore its standing as one of the top teams in the country. The Blue Devils are optimistic that this victory, which came about at home, is the beginning of a better future. The squad is slated to play No. 6 Baylor at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 12 after taking on Hofstra at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This matchup appears to be crucial for the team’s status as a contender for a national championship.
The Blue Devils more than doubled their fast-break points for this game after only managing six points off the break in their previous meeting with Georgia Tech on December 2. This was especially important in the first half, when the team outscored the 49ers 45–27 to take a comfortable lead into the half. Duke’s superiority in managing the game’s tempo is further evidenced by the significant number of points they scored off the fast break. The Blue Devils had struggled offensively during the previous three games, which frequently resulted in tough shots and shot-clock infractions. The Blue Devils had more fast-break points, which allowed them to gain an early advantage. They then utilised their defence to support the offence, which frequently resulted in low-percentage shots.
Not only is 17 points the most Duke has scored off the fast break this season, but it also suggests that the team may play fast in the upcoming games. It demonstrates how Duke can use a stifling defence to help its offence produce if head coach Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils can duplicate this output.
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