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Duke Basketball: Blue Devils finally get back in action against Clemson

By Kevin Connelly

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 18: RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils drives past Jaelin Llewellyn #0 of the Princeton Tigers during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 18, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 18: RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils drives past Jaelin Llewellyn #0 of the Princeton Tigers during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 18, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Basketball team will finally get back on the court as ACC tips off with the Clemson Tigers coming to town.

Congratulations Duke fans, you have made it.

There has been one Duke Basketball game in the last 27 days, but that all ends tonight as the Blue Devils tip off ACC play against the Clemson Tigers from Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The last time the Blue Devils were on the floor the team was celebrating a thrilling comeback victory over the then No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders at Madison Square Garden.

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Now comes the grueling part of the schedule in ACC play, but a group that is young and well rested should be up for the task, especially on Saturday night in front of its home fans.

The Tigers are led by four seniors; Shelton Mitchell, Marcquise Reed, David Skara, and Elijah Thomas.

Reed and Mitchell should the focal point of the Duke defense as the two were in the top four scorers from last seasons Sweet 16 team and the duo lead the Tigers in points per game this season.

The Blue Devil defense should try and limit the chances Clemson gets in the paint and force the Tigers to shoot from beyond the 3-point range since Clemson shoots 31.6% from beyond the arc as a team.

As for Duke on the offensive side of the ball, let’s be honest, it may be shaky to start.

The last time the Blue Devils had a long layoff, the team could not miss from the field in the opening minites against Texas Tech, but until late in the second half, Duke struggled to find any rhythm offensively.

A factor in that was due to the tenacious defense of Texas Tech, but Clemson’s defense isn’t nearly on that level.

Expect more of the same for the Blue Devils with large doses of R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Tre Jones.

Cam Reddish has been in shooting funk for the better part of one month now and hopefully the time off allowed him to clear his mind and get back to being the knockdown sharpshooter that Duke fans saw in the early part of this season.

It might be ugly early on, but the Blue Devils will roll in this one, using another second half explosion to notch its first ACC win of the year.

PREDICTION: Duke 87, Clemson 73

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