Duke basketball report card for Week 2 of ACC play

Duke basketball offensive grade for Week 2 of ACC play: A-

There are many promising stats to look at after Duke’s two-game homestand this week. Over both games, the Blue Devils shot 47.8 percent from the field, a percentage that reflects their work ethic in times of need.

In its first game in three weeks, Duke’s first-half performance against Boston College was an absolute wreck. The players exemplified exactly how multiple weeks off can affect a team after shooting under 40 percent from the field.

Multiple turnovers and their collective asynchronous dynamic had them down as much as 16. They were somehow able to keep up, though, as they cut their deficit to just eight points heading into halftime.

Coming out of the locker room, the Blue Devils set the tone of the half in the first 90 seconds, cutting their deficit to just four.

For the remainder of the half, Duke was as in sync as a team could get, improving to 51.5 percent from the field and securing an 83-82 win. The Blue Devils forced turnovers and displayed impressive ball movement, not to mention extreme hustle under the basket after grabbing 19 offensive rebounds to get 12 second-chance points.

Duke did much better after Coach K returned in the matchup against Wake Forest, coming away with a 79-68 victory. The team shot 50.8 percent from the field over both halves, looking much more comfortable after finally getting back on the floor two days prior.

The players attacked the rim in more ways than one, getting to the glass to score and grabbing another 15 offensive rebounds for the week.

But the Blue Devils did struggle from behind the arc in both games, averaging under 35 percent. However, their ability to make up for it by relentlessly driving to the rim helped their chances, resulting in an A- offensive grade for the week.