Duke basketball: 20 serious concerns about 2020-21 Blue Devils
By Matt Giles
Question No. 8 for the 2020-21 Duke basketball team…
Has the game slowed down in the head of a sophomore Wendell Moore?
There were definitely a few bright spots to Wendell Moore’s time as a Duke basketball freshman last season. His awareness in delivering the game-winning putback in overtime at North Carolina. His resolute and effective defense, no matter the position he guarded. His 80.6 free throw percentage. His ability to run the point in short bursts. His team-first demeanor.
Moore touched on the effect of these high points when outlining his experience and essentially presenting a strong bid for a captain role during his talk with the media in August:
“From a leadership standpoint, even though I’m only a sophomore here, I’ve been here for a year, I know how the system works, I know the things we do behind the scenes.”
In the same chat, Moore also alluded to the aspects of his box scores that must improve — turnovers and outside shooting, in particular — if he is to help lead the Blue Devils to a memorable 2020-21 campaign:
“I would probably say the biggest thing for me wasn’t so much my physical abilities or my ball-handling or my shooting or dribbling. I think for me, it was more of a mindset thing, just getting into my own headspace where I can ultimately play the game how I want to play: at my speed, at my pace. Just developing that confidence that I was missing last season…”
There’s no doubt all the new faces in town will need a confident mentor like Moore soon after the Duke basketball season tips off on Nov. 25…