Preview: Duke Looks to End the Year Perfect With a Home Victory Over Wofford

The Duke Blue Devils are looking to end 2014 with a home victory over the Wofford Terriers.

Duke is seeking a 12-0 start for the 11th time under Coach Mike Krzyzewski and should earn the victory fairly easily over a respectable opponent in Wofford. Wofford isn’t a walk over and in years past Duke may have struggled to put a mid-major team away due to lack of defense and no true big.

Dec 29, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) dunks the ball against the Toledo Rockets in their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

This year is different for many reasons, but as the old saying goes, “defense wins championships” and that is just what Duke is striving to achieve. The defense is not at a championship level yet but it is certainly much better this year. Duke’s guards are actually able to contain the opposition. If they do get beat they have a true big to protect the rim.

Jahlil Okafor is a true big man who is only going to improve defensively but he has the natural ability to block shots and alter shots. Wofford isn’t overly talented and don’t possess any real threats or ways to slowing down Okafor on both ends of the floor.

The one player that Duke will surely be focusing on is Wofford senior guard Karl Cochran. Cochran is easily the Terriers best player. He comes into the game averaging 13.3 points and 3 assists but is struggling with his shot. Cochran is only shooting 30 percent on the season and will be the one taking the most shots in the game.

That is good news for Duke because one player is not going to beat them. Especially a player who is shooting only 30 percent on the season. Look for Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook to apply heavy pressure for the full game to make Cochran’s life miserable.

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Cook and Jones will control the pace of the game and won’t give Wofford a second to breathe. They will push the tempo and apply heavy pressure defensively. Outside of Jones, Cook, and Okafor look for Justise Winslow to have a big game.

Winslow is an elite athlete who can get to the rim when he wants and is an average three-point shooter. He is a mismatch nightmare for most teams and Wofford will have trouble slowing him down. This is the game that Winslow takes over and gets on a roll before ACC play begins.

I expect Duke to dominate from the opening tip and this will be a great game to get some extra playing time for Grayson Allen and Marshall Plumlee. The extra playing time for these two guys is going to be pivotal before they start conference play because it will build their confidence and add greater depth for the Blue Devils.

Duke will look to win its 40th consecutive game at Cameron Indoor Stadium and its 116th straight non-conference game at home. Both streaks should be extended in what will be an easy victory for Duke.

The combination of Okafor, Jones, Cook, and Winslow will prove to be too much for Wofford to handle and Duke wins in a rout. Duke wins the game 84-58.

The last time out Wofford was romped by West Virginia 77-44 and a similar outcome is expected again. The Terriers have trouble scoring the ball if Cochran is shut down because they don’t have the talent to surround him.