Duke Blue Devils MBB Travels to the Carrier Dome

The No. 4 Duke Blue Devils travel to the Carrier Dome for a showdown with the Syracuse Orange on Saturday night.

The Blue Devils were on the verge of a meltdown. They looked lost. They only lost three games, but they were struggling. Coach K made a historic move and dismissed Rasheed Sulaimon from the team.

Ever since Sulaimon was dismissed the Blue Devils have been rolling. Duke has won four consecutive games. They knocked off the then undefeated and No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers in Virginia. Duke also got revenge against Notre Dame. The Blue Devils cruised to a 90-60 victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium against Notre Dame.

Feb 7, 2015; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils starters center Jahlil Okafor (15) and forward Justise Winslow (12) and forward Amile Jefferson (21) and guard Tyus Jones (5) and guard Quinn Cook (2) wait to be introduced prior to the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Devils are looking sharp and seem to be finding their form at just the right time. Syracuse isn’t as talented as last year, but the 2-3 zone is never easy to play against.

Duke enters the game with a ton of confidence. Their defense has improved and expanded. Coach K is historically plays only man-to-man, but they now have the ability to play a 2-3 zone. Their offense is clicking on all cylinders as well.

Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones are controlling the pace and tempo of the game. They control possession and rarely turn the ball over. Justise Winslow is emerging as a star. Winslow has been on a tear recently and no one has an answer for him. Over the past four games Winslow is averaging 14.75 points and 9.25 rebounds.

Winslow has also recorded three double-doubles in the past four games. And then there is Jahlil Okafor. Okafor has continued his dominant play and there is simply no answer for him.

The 2-3 may help Syracuse slow down a potent Duke attack. The key to beating a zone is attacking the gaps and knocking down shots from the perimeter. The Blue Devils have the talent to do both.

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Cook, Jones and Winslow all have the ability to knock down the perimeter shot. Not only can they knock down the 3-point shot, but they can also attack the rim and create for their teammates. The combination of the perimeter play and Okafor in the paint will be key for Duke versus Syracuse.

Last year the Blue Devils and the Orange played two terrific games, both teams won their home game in the series. When the two teams met last February in Syracuse, Duke rallied late in regulation to force overtime.

That was last year. There is no resemblance between last years team and this years. Last season Duke’s starting lineup consisted of Jabari Parker, Rodney Hood, Tyler Thornton, Amile Jefferson and Quinn Cook. The Blue Devils also used Rasheed Sulaimon, Josh Hairston, Matt Jones and Marshall Plumlee off the bench.

The same can be said for the Syracuse Orange. The Orange lost Jerami Grant, C.J. Fair and Tyler Ennis. Syracuse still has Rakeem Christmas and Trevor Cooney, but they are not the same team as last year.

Keys to the Game:

1. Attack the zone. It is extremely important for Duke to attack the zone and not settle for long shots. The more Duke attacks the gaps and attacks the paint the more the floor will open up. By attacking the gaps in a zone it forces other players to step up and leave their area, which will leave Duke open for an easy basket.

2. Ball movement. As important as it is to attack the gaps in the zone off the dribble, it is equally important to swing the ball. The faster the ball is moved the more the defense has to move. Once the defense is moving and rotating there will be open spots on the floor. If Duke swings the ball they will find themselves with open shots and easy scoring opportunities.

3. The high post. One thing that Duke did extremely well in last year’s game versus Syracuse was keep a man at the free-throw line. Rodney Hood moved perfectly along the free-throw line and the top of the key to find the open space. Duke gave him the ball in a position to make a play. Obviously there is no more Hood for Duke. The Blue Devils need to place a player, with the ability to consistently make a 15-foot jumper, in the middle of the zone. By doing so it will allow more room for Okafor, Jones, Cook and Matt Jones to make plays.

Prediction:

The Duke Blue Devils will find a way to beat the 2-3 zone of Syracuse and win the game. Duke is more talented than Syracuse and has more scoring options. Duke ultimately beats the zone and escapes the Carrier Dome with a victory. The Blue Devils beat the Orange 72-60.