Overall, the play from the Duke basketball team during its first of two exhibition games looked like a high-flying dunk contest, but how did each player perform on a 100-point scale?
If the Duke basketball players had bothered to show the same willingness to play defense as they did offense in the first half of Tuesday night’s 106-64 exhibition win over Virginia Union, the lead at the break might have matched the final margin of victory.
And since the squad so often played the role of spectator on defense before likely getting called out on it by head coach Mike Krzyzewski after the first 20 minutes, when coming up with individual grades, I automatically deducted five points from each Blue Devil who saw action during the first half.
First, find out the numerical marks for the starters on this page — from best to worst — then click “Next” to see how the reserves fared.
Zion Williamson
29 points, 11-of-13 shooting, 7-of-7 foul shots, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Grade: 99
Yes, I did deduct five points from Williamson for the reason explained above; that being said, I have given him some bonus points as a result of his complete performance. First, I’ve never seen anything more emphatic than the dunks and blocks of Williamson. I think I could watch the highlights from his rim-rocking jams from this game alone on a constant loop for the rest of my life and never become bored.
And during the first half, the 6-foot-7, 285-pound freshman swatted a shot that thumped off the backboard so hard that the Duke basketball program will likely have to call in a glass expert to fix the dent that it had to have left.
But it wasn’t just his aerial acts; his post moves looked like those of an all-star power forward in the NBA. And his ability to use his gargantuan arms and athletic prowess to snatch rebounds was simply amazing — as is becoming the norm with the phenom. Plus, his efficiency was more than ideal.
R.J. Barrett
23 points, 10-of-14 shooting, 3-of-7 from three, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Grade: 93
The shooting percentage of Barrett considerably improved from the Blue-White scrimmage and the Duke basketball team’s three-game Canada Tour in August. And the southpaw put on an ambidextrous scoring show. Although it was nice to see his shot from beyond the arc fall almost as often as it missed, his ability to finish in the lane with his right hand was particularly impressive.
This isn’t exactly breaking news, but Barrett is a true scoring machine.
Cam Reddish
Grade: 92
13 points, 4-of-13 shooting, 3-of-10 from three, 2-of-6 foul shots, 7 assists, 3 rebounds
Smooth is the best word to describe the game of Reddish; it applies to his shot and his moves.
As for his shot, because he gets it off quick from downtown and each attempt looks like it has a chance to go in as soon as it rolls off his fingers — despite his less-than-ideal percentage in this game — the 6-foot-8, 220-pound freshman forward could prove to be the team’s most reliable outside shooter.
In addition to his shooting, though, he showed off his all-around game that many experts praised when he was in high school. If the next guy on this list was not on the floor, Reddish would have been Duke’s top distributor.
Tre Jones
Grade: 90
6 points, 2-of-5 shooting, 2-of-3 from three, 9 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal
Unselfish is the best word to describe the play of Jones. It appears as if he could care less if he ever scores in double figures. And that is exactly what this talent-loaded Duke basketball team needs from its floor general.
As for the freshman point guard’s defense, while it could have been more intense in the first half — like the rest of the Blue Devils — he was a constant nuisance to the other team’s point guard, which is something the Blue Devils often lacked last season.
Marques Bolden
6 points, 3-of-3 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal
Grade: 80
After drawing the unexpected start, Duke basketball fans were anxious to see how Bolden would respond. Eh. While it is hard to knock a guy who did not miss a shot, he made several mistakes when the ball was in his hands, was not strong with his post moves, and was often outhustled for rebounds. So while he sometimes shows flashes of what he could become, the 6-foot-11 junior is just still not there yet.
Jack White
11 points, 4-of-7 shooting, 2-of-5 from three, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Grade: 88
In the first half, it did not seem as if White had any chance to be the top reserve. But the 6-foot-6 junior heated up after the break and found his sweet spot from the corner, where he knocked down both of his three-pointers. He also kept his motor running on the defensive end, looking for any opportunity he had to snag a steal.
Javin DeLaurier
1 point, 0-of-1 shooting, 1-of-2 foul shots, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks
Grade: 85
Of all the Blue Devils, DeLaurier was the most relentless on the defensive end. He stepped in to draw charges — both successfully and unsuccessfully — and the 6-foot-10 junior came away with three blocks. On offense, though, he struggled to get involved in the action and show the improved stroke he had in the Blue-White scrimmage.
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Alex O’Connell
10 points, 4-of-6 shooting, 2-of-3 from three, 5 rebounds
Grade: 85
O’Connell, who showed he can shoot last season by knocking down 22 of his 45 three-point attempts, looks to have found his stroke again this season. Along with Reddish, he should come away with the highest shooting percentage from beyond the arc by the time the season is over. However, the sophomore guard still does not become as involved as fans would like to see on the defensive end of the floor.
Joey Baker
2 points, 1-of-2 shooting, 3 assists, 1 rebound
Grade: 78
Although he did not see a ton of action, Baker took advantage of the time he was on the court. He turned an offensive rebound into a strong drive and score in the second half. And in the final minute of the game, he drew a charge. If the coaching staff decides not to redshirt the freshman, expect his contributions and playing time to increase as the season progresses.
Jordan Goldwire
0 points, 0 shots, 1 steal, 1 assist, 2 minutes played
Grade: 70
It’s tough to do much of anything in only two minutes. That being said, Goldwire showed hustle in his brief stint on the floor and didn’t make any mistakes. The sophomore point guard remains a safe option off the bench when the coaches need to call his number.
Antonio Vrankovic
2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 minutes played
Grade: 70
Vrankovic did not see much action; when he was on the floor, though, he was not afraid to dive on the floor for a loose ball. His role on this team seems to mirror that of previous years: he is the last option, yet a solid option, for Coach K when he dishes out minutes to his big men.
Justin Robinson
0 points, 0-for-2 shooting, 1 block, 6 minutes played
Grade: 70
Robinson did not play a stretch long enough to find his groove. However, he did have a block that showed off his awareness and fought hard to provide some form of a spark for the team on the defensive end of the floor. On offense, however, his shot and overall skills still look like a work in progress.
Mike Buckmire
3 points, 1-of-1 shooting, 3 minutes played
Grade: 70
Had Buckmire played more than a couple of minutes — unlikely to ever happen for the sophomore walk-on — he may have received a higher score. After all, his three-pointer in the last few minutes of the game — he also handled the ball well during mop-up duty — drew a cheer from the Cameron Crazies that was nearly as loud as those that followed Williamson’s dunks.
The Blue Devils finish exhibition play on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Ferris State, the defending Division II champs.