Believe it or not, there are bright spots to this Duke basketball campaign.
Panic, anger, numb disbelief. Frankly, it’s amazing what can go through a random Duke basketball fan’s head during any given game.
Take a game when things aren’t necessarily going to plan, and those feelings have a nasty habit of sticking around long after the final whistle blows. Tuesday night’s 83-68 drubbing at home by No. 6 Illinois certainly qualifies as one of those games.
The shots weren’t falling. The freshmen looked unsure and unconfident. Duke wasn’t finishing through contact. And a leader still hasn’t emerged. The rest of my compadres on Blue Devil Twitter have echoed these sentiments, and my initial thought in writing this article was to eat seconds from that depressing dish.
Then I remembered something that has somewhat aided my mental and spiritual well-being since last season. I have a platform now; Ball Durham has given me a path and a voice (bad call) to let people see how I view games.
And to show my gratefulness for both this site and whomever you are reading this, I’m not going to take you down the dark and winding road I went down on Tuesday night.
Instead, I’m going to help out both of us and focus on three things I have liked through the first four games of Duke’s season so far. Let’s get to No. 1…
First positive about Duke basketball: MATTHEW HURT HAS BEEN AS ADVERTISED
Going into the season, I posited, and many agreed, that the three surefire scoring options going into the season were sophomore forwards Matthew Hurt and Wendell Moore plus freshman forward Jalen Johnson.
One out of three ain’t bad, I guess. Jalen Johnson has shown flashes of talent, having gone 8-for-8 from the field and dropping 19 in the opener vs Coppin St. But his shot selection and ability to finish through contact have looked nothing short of shaky since.
Don’t even get me started on Wendell Moore. The guy is super talented, and I stand by my position that he’s the most important player in Duke’s success. He should be able to turn it around just by seeing the ball go through the hoop a few times.
But one guy who seems to be in midseason form already is Matthew Hurt.
The 6-foot-9 stretch-four is averaging 19.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and is the only real sure thing the Blue Devils have right about now. Hurt’s mid-range game is what’s impressing me the most to this point, with a silky smooth step-back jumper and a quick first step.
There’s still work to be done for sure. Hurt still looks a bit lost on the defensive interior, seeming to be a step behind on rotations. He also isn’t the greatest rim protector, with only two blocks so far this year.
For all the talk of Mike Krzyzewski still trying to figure out lineups, I’m willing to bet my nonexistent reputation that he is hoping Hurt will get a bit quicker on the low block to make his small-ball lineup work.
The last thing I would like to see from Hurt is the willingness to take and hit big shots when Duke needs him to. The lack of a leader who will put the team on his back is showing. And Hurt, for now, looks to be the guy most in place to step up with his game and his emotions.
Second positive about Duke basketball: THE DEFENSE IS AHEAD OF THE OFFENSE
Mike Krzyzewski mentioned that the defense is ahead of the offense, which is certainly weird for such a young team. Well, thank God for weirdness, because Duke’s team defense has been solid so far.
The Blue Devils are holding opponents to 70.8 points a game, and for having played two veteran top-10 squads, that’s nothing to smirk at. They still aren’t talking and communicating as well as they could be, and something resembling consistent rim protection would be greatly appreciated.
But you have to figure, with time and practice, communication and switch-offs will become more seamless and that Coach K iron out the kinks and figure out a lineup that works.
To the astonishment of absolutely no one, senior guard Jordan Goldwire is the fulcrum and defensive tone-setter. That man is the literal incarnate of the Energizer Bunny, and I’m dying to know what he does to stay in such phenomenal cardiovascular shape.
J Gold has 11 steals already, which outstrips the next closest Duke player by seven. His energy and hands are ready-made weapons that Krzyzewski can call upon at any moment to get the press started and start comebacks (which hopefully won’t be needed too much longer).
Freshmen DJ Steward and Jalen Johnson seem to be apt and ready on the defensive side of the ball, as well with Steward’s on-ball pressure and Johnson’s blocks really standing out.
Keeping opponents scoring in the 60s and 70s is a recipe for success, especially come tournament time. Duke’s offense isn’t helping its defense, though, scoring only a pedestrian 73.5 points a game.
If the Blue Devils can improve their offensive consistency and keep up the pace on the other end of the floor, sunny days should be ahead for the Dukies.
Third positive about Duke basketball: THE TEAM HAS SOME FIGHT
Like any other profession, college basketball is a result-based industry, and I understand that this next sentence will seem hollow to a fanbase expecting brilliance. But this team has the fight, real moxie, as the old school boxing announcers would say.
It would be very easy for the young group of guys Duke has to get dejected and stop trying when they get into early holes. But these guys have guts. They have fortitude. And that is something past Blue Devil championship teams have had.
ALSO READ: Ranking the first 40 Duke teams under Coach K
I firmly believe that the offensive execution will come, and when it does, it pays to be the person in the fight who actually wants to be there. With the previously mentioned Jordan Goldwire-led defense, this team keeps clawing.
Getting into early deficits against Michigan St. and Illinois is a prime example of that. Granted, the Blue Devils should never get themselves into those chasms. Yet rough starts can happen, and I’m happy to know that this young squad can stay in games and at least keep it interesting.
I realize this is little consolation to us as Duke fans, but I have to keep reminding myself to trust the plan. Trust that Mike Krzyzewski knows what he’s doing and that no matter what happens via COVID, our leader will be able to scramble and get this ship into calmer waters.
The haters are hating right now across social media. Coach K dared to show concern for his team and wonder what the plan is for navigating this new landscape with cancellations and postponements of games abound.
The coyotes are circling and having themselves a good laugh thinking the boss only wants to reconsider playing because Duke lost two games. But remember, coyotes can’t hunt for themselves. They can only eat garbage and gang up on wounded animals until the bigger animal comes back to send them running.
This world will straighten itself out, and when it does, the game’s all-time wins leader will remember all the mud being slung at him right now.
Coach K will fight like hell, and having a team that comes ready-made to swing like Clubber Lang is going to be worth its weight in gold. I know times are tight right now, folks, but stick by your Blue Devils. They will fight and be great again.
And greatness, no matter how it comes or what it’s for, is always something worth watching.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball news and views.