Five Duke basketball players highlight the formula for success

Duke basketball formula for success: Mark Williams

Freshman big man Mark Williams gave Duke a nice boost in the first half. The 7-footer did not appear at all in the team’s previous two games, and he hadn’t scored since the win at Notre Dame over a month ago. He played just 13 minutes versus Georgia Tech but scored six points and pulled down six rebounds.

Overall, Williams did a good job of running the floor, getting deep post position, and using his size to take advantage of smaller defenders. He also was able to alter some shots around the rim.

Williams provides Duke with something it otherwise does not have. He can be a lob threat and a guy who can give you a few buckets in the low post.

The issue is Williams is unable to play extended minutes because of knee tendinitis. Plus, he does not seem to have the lateral quickness to defend on the perimeter. When he was in the game, Georgia Tech often isolated him on the perimeter with ball screens. Even though he was staying home on those screens, he was unable to keep the lightning-quick Jose Alvarado in front of him.

Let’s now take a look at another winning performer…