Duke Basketball: Stats suggest Blue Devil defense is program’s best ever

Across several statistical categories, the Blue Devils are on pace to reach marks unseen in the history of the Duke basketball program.

The number of points a defense allows does not suffice in describing its dominance. After all, like the current Duke basketball team, some squads play a much faster tempo than others, thereby creating more possessions for opponents.

So in order to adequately put into words the Blue Devils’ defensive prowess thus far this season, more numbers are needed. Take a look:

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• Five — consecutive games that the Blue Devils have snatched at least 10 steals.
• Fourth — where that streak ranks in program history. The 1997-98 squad reached seven games, thanks to the likes of defensive stalwarts William Avery and Steve Wojciechowski. The 1986-87 team, thanks to one of the best defensive guards in the history of the sport, Tommy Amaker, and the 2001-02 team, thanks to guards Chris Duhon and Jason Williams, each reached six consecutive games.
• 11.2 — steals per game by the Blue Devils across their 10-1 start.
• First — where Duke ranks amongst all other NCAA teams in steals per game.
• First — where Duke’s steals-per-game average would rank in the program’s history if the season ended today (10.5 by the 2000-01 national champions is the highest clip to date).
• 14.3 — percent of opponents’ possessions in which Duke comes away with a steal.
• First — where that mark ranks amongst all other NCAA teams.
• 2.2 — the average number of steals per game by freshman forward Zion Williamson.
• Ninth — where, if the season ended today, that mark would rank amongst the season averages of all former Blue Devils, just ahead of Williams’ average from the 2001-02 season.
• Second — where, if the season ended today, that mark by Zion would rank amongst the season averages by all freshmen Blue Devils, just behind Williams’ average from his 1999-00 freshman campaign.
• 2.1 — the average number of steals per game by freshman forward Cam Reddish.
• Third — where, if the season ended today, that mark would rank amongst the season averages by all freshmen Blue Devils, just behind Zion.
• 14 — blocked shots by the Blue Devils during their 101-50 home win over Princeton on Tuesday night, the most by a Duke team in a game since 2006, according to the program’s official Twitter account.
• Five — the number of times this season that Duke has blocked at least 10 shots in a game.
• Three — the number of times combined that Duke had at least 10 blocked shots in a game across the previous seven seasons.
• 8.1 — blocks per game by the Blue Devils.
• First — where that mark ranks amongst all other NCAA teams.
• First — where Duke’s blocks-per-game average would rank in the program’s history if the season ended today (6.5 by the 2003-04 team, which featured Shelden “The Landlord” Williams, is the highest clip to date).
• 12.5 — percent of shots that the Blue Devils block.
• Second — where that mark ranks amongst all other NCAA teams.
• 36.7 — shooting percentage by the Blue Devils’ opponents.
• Fourth — where that mark ranks amongst all other NCAA teams.
• First — where that mark would rank in the program’s history if the season ended today (39.0 percent by the 2004-05 team is the best clip to date).
• 0.820 — Duke’s defensive efficiency.
• Third — where that mark ranks amongst all other NCAA teams (in a tie with Kansas). First on the list at 0.735 is Duke’s next opponent, Texas Tech.

The No. 2 Blue Devils and the No. 12 Red Raiders, two of the nation’s top defensive juggernauts, square off on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Madison Square Garden on ESPN2.