Recap: Duke Powers Past Wofford 84-55

By Tyler Hoxsie | Dec 31, 2014

Dec 31, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Justise Winslow (12) looks to pass around Wofford Terriers forward Lee Skinner (34) in their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

The Duke Blue Devils used a dominant second half performance to beat the Wofford Terriers 84-55 in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

For the second straight game Duke struggled in the first half versus an opponent they should have dominated. The Blue Devils went into the half with a 41-34 lead and did not look sharp. For the second straight game the Duke defense in the first half hasn’t been as sharp.

For the second straight game Duke has turned it around at the half. The Blue Devils won the second half 43-21 thanks to their defense and the big fella down low. Throughout the first half the Blue Devils were led by Justise Winslow and Jahlil Okafor. Winslow led all scorers with 16 first half points and five rebounds while Okafor added 11 points and four rebounds with two blocks. The two players were aggressive, took control of the game and Wofford had no solution for either player.

In the second half Okafor continued his string of dominant performances as he finished the game with 24 points and eight rebounds, 13 points coming in the second half while Winslow was shut down in the second half. Winslow finished the game with 16 points and seven rebounds.

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A key to every basketball game is the rebounding battle and Wofford was certainly battling for every one. Duke ended up winning the rebounding battle 34-30 but Wofford had 10 offensive rebounds to Duke’s seven. Second and third efforts helped the Terriers keep the game interesting and they seemed to be playing with more effort but Duke was just getting by on their talent and skill.

The slow start is nothing new for the Blue Devils but is something that may become a bit of a concern if the trend continues. Or it could be related to the level of competition and the long lay-offs. I am hoping it is just the long lay-off.

Okafor took over for Duke to get them going in the second half and extend their lead. With 10 minutes left in the game Duke was in complete control of the game with a 63-45 lead. Wofford was stumbling and couldn’t get anything going because the Blue Devils defense intensified.

Not only did Duke’s defense improve but the Terriers couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. They did have some good looks but nothing was falling. Even up 18 points the Blue Devils didn’t just coast to the finish line. They continued to apply full-court pressure and make getting into a set difficult.

Dec 31, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski makes his point arguing a call with officials Tim Comer and Raymond Styons in their game against the Wofford Terriers at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook didn’t exactly light up the score board but were key in the victory. Cook managed to get into double figure points, 15 points, for the 11th time in 12 games and Jones filled the stat sheet in a variety of ways. Jones finished the game with five points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. He only took four shots but showed his dynamic ability and all-around skill.

Up by 19, 74-55, with four minutes left Duke slowed the pace down and was looking to run their offense and the clock. The offensive tempo definitely slowed down but their defensive intensity remained high. Usually when teams are up big the level of defense will a dip. Coach K is certainly going to be pleased with how well they played on defense in the second half but will look to improve on the first half.

Okafor finished the night after a vicious dunk with just under two minutes left and Marshall Plumlee would close the game out at center. With one minute left and up 23 points Grayson Allen hit a three that gave him a loud ovation and you could tell by watching that it was a big shot for him. The way Duke played in the second half is the way they need to play the rest of the season if they want to make a deep run into March.

Coach K now has 995 career wins and the game against Louisville on Jan. 17 could be win number 1,000.

Duke begins ACC play with a home opener against Boston College on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015.

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