Duke basketball: The most lethal defensive lineup next season

Duke basketball (Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports)
Duke basketball (Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Duke basketball’s lethal defensive lineup: Wendell Moore at shooting guard

Another long-limbed Blue Devil in store for next season, Wendell Moore has the benefit of having learned from a couple of bonafide defensive stoppers on the perimeter in former Duke basketball guards Tre Jones and Jordan Goldwire. As a junior, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Charlotte native should have a chance to serve as an undoubtedly seasoned leader, especially on defense.

Not only has Moore come away with more than twice as many steals in college (51) as any of the program’s other three returning scholarship players, but he also has enough strength and determination to battle for boards, even against opponents’ power forwards.

Through his two years in Durham, Moore has averaged 7.0 rebounds per 40 minutes, which is fairly impressive for a guy who typically plays out on the wing and sometimes even fills in at point guard.

All in all, combining his versatility and his familiarity with Mike Krzyzewski’s expectations, Moore would be an ideal weapon to have in this defense-oriented lineup. And while it’s true that he’s more of a small forward than shooting guard, this bunch would do a bulk of its damage by way of its imposing overall size, which becomes quite evident here at the three-spot…