The newest ‘Big 3’ on the Duke basketball roster could be one of the best in the country.
The NBA had a brief shift in strategy from the ‘Big 3’ to a ‘Big 2’, and now the league is back to a ‘Big 3’. However, the Duke basketball team has a ‘Big 3’ of its own, and it could be the best trio in the country.
There have been prior ‘Big 3’s’ in the long history of the Blue Devils, most recently Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Tre Jones or Tyus Jones, Quinn Cook, and Jahlil Okafor.
But Mike Krzyzewski might have himself another ‘Big 3’ in Trevor Keels, Paolo Banchero, and Mark Williams entering his final season on the sidelines in Durham.
Keels, one of the final pieces to Duke’s recruiting class this season, proved his worth in his first public appearance as a Blue Devil in the Countdown to Craziness scrimmage.
The Clinton, Maryland native posted 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals on 8-for-15 shooting from the field and firing in 3-of-7 shots from 3-point range in just 24 minutes of action.
If Trevor Keels can consistently produce those numbers for Duke this season, not only will the Blue Devils emerge as a National Championship favorite, but Keels could also rocket up NBA Draft boards.
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Banchero, a projected Top-3 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, is a stud in every aspect of the word.
He can get it done inside or outside, on the ball or off the ball, and will command a lot of attention from opposing defenses throughout the season, which will provide others with chances to emerge for Duke this season.
Mark Williams ended his freshman season as arguably the best player in the ACC, and he picked up right where he left off on Friday night.
Williams went for 15 points and 11 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and flashed his potential range while making one 3-point attempt.
Rebounds, layups, dunks, and blocks will be the formula for success this season for Mark Williams, and his progression will only make Duke more formidable as an anchor to its defense.
Duke basketball ‘Big 3’ can only be as good as performance of role players
The ‘Big 3’ for Duke is great and will be able to win a handful of games on their own, but the Blue Devils need the role players to step up in order to reach their maximum potential.
Jeremy Roach needs to take the next step as the point guard of the team.
Wendell Moore has to carry his preseason momentum into the regular season as he has been unable to find consistency in his game over the last two seasons.
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Joey Baker has to take a major jump forward as a shooter and defender to be able to play consistent minutes and provide the starters with a chance to rest.
The list goes on and on with players like Jaylen Blakes, Theo John, and the currently injured Adrian Griffin Jr., who will presumably have a major role on the team once he recovers from yet another knee injury.
Duke has all the pieces to make Mike Krzyzewski’s final season a memorable one in Durham, but can the Blue Devils mesh quickly enough to make it all work?
The first test will come against No. 10 Kentucky on November 9.