Losers of two straight and still lacking a quality win on the season, Duke is need of a win against the Cardinals. This game is a huge opportunity for Duke. A victory would give the Blue Devils a much needed quality win to put on their resume and could potentially be the start of some positive momentum they can build on as they enter a stretch where 7 out of 10 games are at home.
After starting 4-0 in ACC play, Louisville heads in to this game after having dropped back to back games against Miami and Florida State. This is a team that will be eager to get back into the win column. Louisville currently sits at 9-3 overall, with a 4-2 conference record.
What to Watch For
How does Jalen Johnson follow up his spectacular outing against Pittsburgh?
Jalen Johnson was simply incredible against Pittsburgh, impacting the game in a number of different ways. The versatility he immediately injected into Duke’s lineup upon his return was sorely missed. Outside of the season opener, Johnson had struggled for the most part leading up to the Pittsburgh game. It will be highly difficult for him to replicate his performance from the previous game, but if he can even come close, this would bode well for Duke. If Johnson begins to consistently play like the top 10 pick he is projected to become, the ceiling for this team is raised.
Defending Louisville’s dynamic backcourt
Senior guard Carlik Jones and Sophomore David Johnson have been a dynamic duo in the backcourt this season for the Cardinals. Carlik Jones is averaging an impressive 17.9 points per game, good for third in the conference. Jones is also third in conference in assists per game at 4.7 per game. David Johnson is pouring in 13.1 points per game himself, and has been deadly beyond the arc, shooting 43.5% from deep on 3.8 attempts per game. Johnson had his way Duke last season, and Duke will do everything it can to prevent Johnson from having a repeat performance in this one.
Jaemyn Brakefield
After a stretch where he scored in double figures in three out of four games, Brakefield has since gone scoreless in three of the last four games. After a few early defensive mistakes against Pittsburgh, he was pulled and finished the game with just three minutes played, by far his lowest total since the season opener. Perhaps Coach K was trying to send a message by keeping him on the bench. The amount of playing time Brakefield is given will be a story line to monitor in this game.
Pace of play
Louisville wants to slow the game down. They currently rank 327th in the country in possessions per game at 67.3. Louisville is going to do everything it can to make this a half court game and limit transition opportunities for Duke. While Duke certainly does not play at a blistering pace, they look to get up and down more often than Louisville and on average have quicker possessions. If Louisville turns this into a slow, grind-it-out type of game, they will have the upper hand.
Can Duke put together a full game?
Duke has shown flashes of what they can become as a team of late, but they continue to be hampered by stretches of poor play, primarily in the first half. Slow starts have become a theme with this team. It is encouraging that the team has shown the ability to put together some solid stretches of play in the second half, but they have to avoid another slow start against Louisville. If they get off to another poor start, it will be very tough to comeback against a quality Louisville team.