Is there any cause for concern within the Duke basketball program after its most recent victory?
A win is a win, but should fans worry about the Duke basketball victory over Boston College?
The Eagles (2-8, 0-4 ACC) might be the worst team in the ACC this season and raced out to a 16-point lead inside Cameron Indoor Stadium late in the first half.
Yes, the No. 21 Blue Devils (4-2, 2-0 ACC) were able to rally to cut into the lead before halftime, eventually making plays down the stretch to win, 83-82.
Issues on the defensive side of the ball that plagued Duke in its previous two losses against No. 8 Michigan State and No. 6 Illinois were on display again, and that could raise eyebrows going forward and give supporters of the program cause for concern going forward.
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Boston College got any shot it wanted and scored 82 points, the second-most points this season for Jim Christian‘s team, after scoring 93 in a loss against St. John’s earlier this season.
The Eagles did not see any production from star Wynston Tabbs, who scored only six points off the bench, and starter Makai Ashton-Langford, who did not play in Wednesday’s meeting.
But Boston College still shot 56.1-percent from the floor (32-of-57) and 56.3-percent from 3-point range (9-of-16).
DeMarr Langford Jr., Rich Kelly, and CJ Felder all set season-highs in points, and if the Eagles had not only made 9-of-13 free throws, Duke might have been handed its third home loss of the season.
Reasoning for poor Duke basketball performance
Granted, the Blue Devils had not played for 21 days because of their holiday break and two postponed games because of COVID-19 protocols within the opponents’ program, so rust was expected.
However, the rust was too heavy for the liking of acting head coach Jon Scheyer, who filled in for Mike Krzyzewski as the 73-year-old remains sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols and quarantine regulations.
Nevertheless, we enter another edition of ‘Stock Up, Stock Down’ following the victory over Boston College.
Duke basketball players who improved their stock against Boston College
Wendell Moore
Well, this one is too easy.
Wendell Moore had his best game of the season on Wednesday night.
Coming off the bench, the sophomore forward logged 30 minutes and posted a season-high, and tied a career-high, 25 points in addition to four rebounds, an assist, and three steals.
Moore had scored 19 combined points through the first five games of the season before the three-week layoff allowed the North Carolina native to clear his mind and get back to the basics on the court.
The 6-foot-6 forward was 8-of-13 from the floor, 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
If Duke can get this version of Wendell Moore for the remainder of the season, the Blue Devils will have a much better chance at reaching their full potential.
Jeremy Roach
As Duke continues to play more games, freshman point guard Jeremy Roach continues to get more comfortable on the court.
Roach continues to impact the game in a positive manner and is seeing his offensive numbers soar after posting 12 points, two rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 32 minutes on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.
The one issue with the guard on Wednesday night was his five turnovers, something that will be fixed as he continues to adjust to the physicality of ACC play.
Jeremy Roach will be a key fixture for the Blue Devils going forward in 2021.
Matthew Hurt
It seems after each game Duke plays this season, Matthew Hurt finds himself on the ‘Stock Up’ list.
Hurt put forth another stellar effort over Boston College with 17 points and 11 rebounds on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor and 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
The sophomore forward continues to show his improved strength and offensive abilities as defenses focus their attention on the sharp-shooting big man but with little success at shutting down the former five-star recruit.
BONUS: Jon Scheyer
His first win as an acting head coach, Jon Scheyer guided the Blue Devils to a victory after a 16-point deficit in the first half.
The National Champion, as a player and an assistant coach, drew up a perfect inbounds play to Wendell Moore, which was the dagger in Boston College’s hopes of a monumental upset.
Scheyer could have another chance to lead Duke as a head coach on Saturday afternoon against Wake Forest if Mike Krzyzewski is still unable to return to the sidelines because of his potential exposure to COVID-19 and subsequent quarantine.
Duke basketball players who hurt their stock against Boston College
Mark Williams
Freshman Mark Williams remained in the starting lineup against Boston College, but he was unable to score in six minutes of action.
Williams missed both of his shot attempts but did grab three rebounds in the victory.
However, the reason he finds himself on the ‘Stock Down’ list is that the Eagles did not put a player on the court taller than 6-foot-8.
Mark Williams should have feasted in the paint, standing at 7-foot tall, on offense against a short Boston College team.
Williams has shown flashes of potential this season but must continue to work on his game to become a serious threat for Duke for the remainder of this season and heading into his sophomore season.
Jaemyn Brakefield
Aside from Matthew Hurt, Jaemyn Brakefield had been Duke’s best player through five games, but the freshman forward did not come through with his best performance against Boston College.
Brakefield did not score in 18 minutes of action with one rebound and two assists.
The four-star recruit had scored in every game he played in this season, even his one point in four minutes during Duke’s season-opening victory over Coppin State.
Jaemyn Brakefield figured to be a player who could greatly improve in the absence of Jalen Johnson, but as the five-star freshman inches closer to his return to the court, minutes will, naturally, be taken away from Brakefield.
Jordan Goldwire
Jordan Goldwire was a little too trigger happy in the Blue Devils’ victory, taking a total of 10 shots, connecting on four.
Goldwire missed multiple layups in the game that could have been costly, and Duke needed him to be better defensively in the first half as Boston College continued its shooting barrage.
The senior point guard finished his night with 12 points, three rebounds, six assists, and three steals, an all-around good performance, but he should not be the focal point of the offense in a close game, something he was in the late stages against Boston College.