Stock up, stock down from Duke’s narrow road win against Georgia Tech

Joey Baker

Joey Baker has been outstanding this season, but Wednesday wasn’t his brightest moment and it’s really not his fault.

Baker started the game in place of Alex O’Connell but the sophomore was limited to just four minutes and did not attempt a shot, nor did he score in the victory.

In his transition to the bench, O’Connell looked much more comfortable, and Baker has also appeared more comfortable coming off the bench this season.

Joey Baker has been one of the best and most consistent shooters Duke has this season and fans should continue to expect to see him on the court for extended minutes going forward.

Free-Throw Shooting

It’s been a love and hate affair with the Blue Devils at the charity stripe this season.

Duke only made 11-of-21 from the free throw line on Wednesday night. Tre Jones missed a majority of those free throws only going 5-of-10, while Jordan Goldwire missed both his attempts and Alex O’Connell missed his lone attempt.

Vernon Carey Jr. and Cassius Stanley both went 2-of-3 from the free throw line as Javin DeLaurier made both of his attempts in two clutch free throws at the end of the game.

Free throws will be critical down the stretch in ACC play and in the postseason for the Blue Devils and Duke needs its primary ball-handler, Tre Jones, to be one of its most consistent options from the charity stripe.

Rebounding

Rebounding has never been an issue from the Blue Devils this season but Duke was out-rebounded on Wednesday night against Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets beat Duke on the glass, 39-30.

Tre Jones was Duke’s leading rebounder with eight boards while Matthew Hurt and Vernon Carey Jr. both had six rebounds each.

Georgia Tech has two formidable big men in James Banks III and Moses Wright as the duo combined for 25 rebounds in the defeat.

Since this is the first time Duke was significantly out-rebounded on the season, don’t worry about it too much yet, but it should be something to monitor going forward to see if it turns out to be a trend or just an outlier.