Duke faces its first real test of the season when it travels to Indianapolis Tuesday night to face off against No. 19 Michigan State at 7 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Three things that Duke will need to do to fend off Tom Izzo’s squad:
Use the size advantage
Last season, it was Duke that suffered from a distinct lack of size in the frontcourt, and it cost the Blue Devils time and again. This year, the Spartans suffer from a similar ailment—the tallest player on their roster is the 6-foot-9 Matt Costello. With center Jahlil Okafor looking as dominant as he has on the low block, it will be imperative for Duke to continue to use his size on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Offensively, point guard Tyus Jones can utilize his ability to spread the ball around to free up space for Okafor down low. The 6-foot-11 freshman will also likely draw a second defender, freeing up shooters on the outside. Defensively, Okafor will be able to close off the interior forcing the ball out wide and on the few times that the Spartans are able to penetrate, he can force players to alter their shots from easy layups into tougher, more acrobatic attempts.
Stay hot from the perimeter
The Blue Devils have opened up the season shooting 47.2 percent from three-point range and a large part of that probably has to do with Okafor demanding extra attention inside. Senior Quinn Cook leads Duke in three-point shot attempts with 14 and has made 50 percent of them. The two other Duke starters who have attempted a three-point shot—freshmen Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow—are shooting 42.9 and 60.0 percent, respectively.
The bench has looked just as successful from beyond the arc, especially the fourth member of the freshman class, Grayson Allen, who is shooting 50 percent from long range. To make the night a lot easier on Okafor and junior Amile Jefferson inside the paint, the perimeter shooters will need to continue this success, otherwise Michigan State will be able to focus all of their attention on the big men down low.
Contain Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine
With Gary Harris, Adreian Payne and Keith Appling—who accounted for 58.7 percent of the scoring for last year’s Michigan State squad—all gone, the Spartans needed to find a top scoring option and through one game it seems clear that this option is senior guard Travis Trice.
Against Navy, Trice put up a team-high 25 points—the next highest total was senior Branden Dawson with 12. As Michigan State continues to figure out the best way to produce without three of last season’s starters, Duke will look to lock down Trice and force someone else to be the main option for the Spartans.
Additionally, 6-foot-5 guard Denzel Valentine is a jack-of-all trades who does it all for Izzo. If the Blue Devils don't account for his activity on both ends of the court, especially in their new high pressure man-to-man defense, they will have a tough time slowing down Michigan State.
Containing Valentine's dribble penetration and blanketing Trice beyond the arc have to be the top priorities for the Blue Devils as they prepare for their third game in five days.
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