After falling to 94-83 to Kansas, Duke returns home to play Florida Atlantic tonight at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium. We will break down a player from each team who could have a major impact in tonight’s game.
Duke: forward Amile Jefferson
Although Jefferson’s 17 points against Kansas on Tuesday night was overshadowed by Jabari Parker’s offensive explosion, but Jefferson has shown off his offensive abilities this season as well. In Duke's season-opener against Davidson, Jefferson went 4-for-4 from the field, scoring 10 points. Look for Jefferson to be on the floor often against the Owls, as he will have to keep 7-foot Baylor transfer Dragan Sekelja from being productive in the paint and off the offensive boards. He will also provide a much-needed offensive outlet when teams begin to focus on Parker and Rodney Hood, as Jefferson is shooting 85 percent from the field, which has helped him average 13.5 points this season. One statistic Jefferson will need to improve upon is his rebounding, as he has only averaged one rebound per game thus far. Nevertheless, he continues to grow in his starting role and will give the Blue Devils a much needed inside presence on both ends of the floor.
Florida Atlantic: center Dragan Sekelja
The Owls only returned five scholarship players from last season after losing the program’s all-time leading scorer, guard Gregg Gantt. But this season the attention has shift toward Sekelja, the 7-foot redshirt senior from Croatia. After appearing in 23 games at Baylor, he transferred to Florida Atlantic in 2011. Last season he played in every game, but averaged only 3.4 points. He is already filling the bigger shoes he received this season, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds—both career highs-- in the team’s last game, a 59-57 loss to St. Francis. Sekelja stands three inches taller than each of the Blue Devil starters, so it is possible that redshirt sophomore center Marshall Plumlee could see more action off the bench to match up against Sekelja’s height. If Florida Atlantic has any remote chance of pulling off an upset against Duke, Sekelja will have to assert himself in the paint, which will open up opportunities for the Owl’s outside shooters.
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