Duke basketball standouts see stocks soar following stellar opener

Aspects of the Duke basketball game which saw stocks fall

Turnovers

Twenty-two turnovers. 22.

Unacceptable no matter who you are playing.

Whether it’s Coppin State, Kentucky, or Virginia, you simply cannot turn the ball over 22 times in 40 minutes and expect to win the game.

Subsequently, Duke only forced Coppin State into eight turnovers. That’s a minus-14 turnover differential against Coppin State at home. That cannot happen, no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.

The turnovers were unacceptable, regardless of the fact that it was the first game of the season for Duke, because it was the first game of the season for Coppin State, too.

Coppin State turned those 22 turnovers into 28 points while Duke put 10 points on the board off of its eight turnovers forced.

Patrick Tape

The first-ever graduate transfer under Mike Krzyzewski finds himself on the ‘Stock Down’ list after failing to enter Saturday’s game.

Granted, Coppin State plays a very small lineup and Duke had the players to adjust to the different lineups head coach Juan Dixon put on the floor, but Mark Williams, Henry Coleman, and Jaemyn Brakefield all got some, albeit limited, minutes.

Patrick Tape has not played since March 4, 2019, and his wait to return to the court will be a little longer.

Perhaps there are minutes available for him on Tuesday against Michigan State as the Spartans do have a taller, more physical frontcourt.

Joey Baker

The love-hate relationship with Joey Baker continues for the Blue Devils as the junior wing always gives 110 percent when he’s on the floor, but sometimes his energy does not match his production.

Baker was an opening night starter alongside the four other returnees for Duke, but the North Carolina native was only able to connect on one shot attempt, a layup in the first half.

Those two points were the only ones of the game for Baker as he went 1-of-4 from the floor, missing all three of his 3-point attempts.

Joey Baker has never been a consistent starter, so perhaps he will come off the bench on Tuesday in favor of DJ Steward and both will feel more comfortable in their roles.

As a reserve, Baker would fill the role of a volume shooter off the bench for Duke.

The catch in that position? Joey Baker would have to start hitting the 3-point ball much more consistently.