Duke Basketball: Sloppy first half between Blue Devils and Georgia Tech
The Duke Basketball team is hosting the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and at halftime, the first half was very sloppy for both teams.
It was indeed the return of Tre Jones to the starting lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury.
Jones was joined in the starting five by Cam Reddish, RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Marques Bolden.
More from Ball Durham
- Duke basketball: The architect behind digital dominance
- Duke basketball prioritizing frontcourt prospects in 2025
- Duke basketball: Unmasking the hate for the Blue Devils
- Duke basketball: Countdown to Craziness lands another huge visitor
- Duke basketball fills final open scholarship
While in the early portions of this game Duke was surprisingly sloppy in transition, the most surprising development in the first six minutes of this game was Antonio Vrankovic being the first player off the bench, seemingly leaping Javin DeLaurier in the rotation.
Neither team could find a rhythm offensively for the first nine minutes as the were three for its first eleven and one of six from 3-point range.
Georgia Tech started four of fifteen, missing all four of its 3-point attempts.
After a struggle for most of the first half, the Blue Devils were not able to maintain its lead and Georgia Tech took a 29-27 lead into halftime.
Like most games, the Blue Devils were led by Zion Williamson, who finished the first half with ten points, four rebounds, and two steals.
R.J. Barrett was able to score ten points, three rebounds, and an assist, but also accounted for four turnovers on three of nine shooting, one of five coming from 3-point range.
In his return to the floor, Tre Jones looked a bit rusty and was not able to score but still three rebounds and an assist.
Marques Bolden had to leave the game with under four minutes to go in the first half after having his foot stepped on going for a defensive rebound.
After the Bolden injury with two minutes left in the half, DeLaurier made his first appearance of the half.
In the second half, the Blue Devils are going to have to play much better, because Georgia Tech is not going away and that first half gave them a tremendous amount of confidence.
Duke is going to have to feed Zion Williamson, take care of the basketball, and stop shooting so many 3-pointers, as the team went one for twelve in the first half.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the Duke Blue Devils vs. the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.