Duke Basketball: Tre Jones’ injury gives Blue Devils panic in first half

It is halftime in Cameron Indoor Stadium as the Duke Basketball team faces the Syracuse Orange in a rivalry Big Monday matchup.

There hasn’t been much concern over the starting five of this Duke Basketball team before tonight.

Zion Williamson went down in the first half against Florida State on Saturday and did not return in the second half, but he did make the start tonight against Syracuse.

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However, the hero of Saturday’s victory, Cam Reddish, was unable to start tonights game due to an illness. Reddish was replaced by Jack White in the starting lineup who joined the normal starters of Tre Jones, R.J. Barrett, Javin DeLaurier, and Williamson.

Despite the pregame chaos about starters, the game couldn’t have been better for Duke to start.

Syracuse coach Jim Beoheim was forced to use a timeout before the first media timeout as the Blue Devils opened the game on an 11-0 run.

After that it was an utter disaster for Duke.

Tre Jones was injured going after a loose ball and left the floor in tears and a lot of pain.

The Blue Devils led 14-6 once Jones left the game and with him out Syracuse was able to create many more opportunities on the offensive end.

The Orange were able to come all the way back and take a three point lead over Duke in the first half, but the Blue Devils still were able to take a 49-48 lead into halftime after an Elijah Hughes three pointer from the other foul line.

Duke released that Tre Jones would be questionable to return to the game with a  “right shoulder issue”.

The Blue Devils were led by R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson. Barrett had 14 points and Williamson had 20 points, but Syracuse’s Tyus Battle along with Williamson led all scorers in the first half with 20 points.

It’s all going to start with defense in the second half for the Blue Devils. Since Jones’ injury, the Duke defense has been horrendous. The Blue Devils are not closing out on shooters and not switching as effectively on ball screens.

Offensively, Duke has found ways to get into the middle of the Syracuse zone and they have to put some more effort on the offensive glass.

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