Duke basketball guard delivers an encouraging career-high
By Matt Giles
Duke basketball savored the many dishes of Jeremy Roach on Saturday.
At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Jeremy Roach is a bit undersized as anything other than a point guard. However, the Duke basketball sophomore is far from a prototypical floor general, especially when considering his inconsistencies in distributing the ball. And this deficiency poses a problem in that he is too often practically nonexistent in the boxscore on days he struggles to score.
But in Saturday afternoon’s 79-59 home win over the Syracuse Orange (9-10, 3-5 ACC), Roach delivered the goods more as a passer than bucket-getter for the No. 6 Duke Blue Devils (15-3, 5-2 ACC).
Despite only six points on 2-for-8 shooting, the former five-star recruit, who had lost his full-time starting job to freshman small forward AJ Griffin three games prior, rose to the occasion as a temporary starter in place of the injured Trevor Keels.
ALSO READ: Blue Devils update the status of freshman Trevor Keels
Roach manufactured a career-high nine dimes, two more than his previous high in college and three more than his previous high this season. Furthermore, his assist total led a group of Blue Devils who collectively put on a passing clinic against the Orange. Also worth noting, the visibly confident 20-year-old committed only one turnover in the process.
Duke will take that ratio from Jeremy Roach any day.
Assists galore from the Duke basketball squad as a whole
All but five of Duke’s 30 made field goals against Syracuse — or 83.3 percent — came off assists as the Blue Devils routinely carved up the patented Orange zone to perfection. According to the official Twitter account for Duke stats, Saturday’s assist percentage is the highest mark from the team this season.
Yes, Jeremy Roach deserves much of the credit.
Next up for the Duke Blue Devils is a home clash versus the Clemson Tigers at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (10-8, 2-5 ACC).
Next. Duke pledge dumbfounded by new ranking. dark
Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more on the play of Jeremy Roach, plus other Duke basketball news and views.