After an 11-day break, No. 2 Duke returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium Monday night against a Toledo team that has won its past five games. Before each game this season, the Blue Zone will select a player on both teams that could make the difference for their teams:
Duke: forward Justise Winslow
Winslow's size and athleticism give him advantages against most forwards around the country, and his versatility to play inside and out have opened up plenty of scoring opportunities for the Houston native. At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Winslow has been able to impose his will on smaller wing players. The Blue Devils have also created mismatches when Winslow plays at the four spot against power forwards unable to match the freshman's explosive speed.
Monday night, Winslow may not be able to use his size to create mismatches as easily as he has done through most of the nonconference slate. The Rockets’ J.D. Weatherspoon is also 6-foot-6 and weighs 215 pounds, and will likely be matched up against Winslow for most of the game. The senior forward averages 12.6 points along with 7.5 rebounds in 30.3 minutes per game. With such a similar body frame, Weatherspoon may be able to limit Winslow’s success both offensively and defensively.
Winslow's ability to take Weatherspoon off the dribble may be the freshman's best scoring opportunity against the senior. The Houston native is averaging 12.0 points per game and is working his way back from a scoring lull earlier in December. Getting to the rim early and often for easy lay-ups in the halfcourt and in transition could help Winslow get going again.
Toledo: guard Julius Brown
Despite his 5-foot-10 build, the senior is Toledo’s leading scorer at 15.9 points per contest. Brown is efficient, shooting 51.6 percent from the field and connecting on 52.5 percent of his 3-point attempts. Although many of his points come from beyond the arc, Brown also has the ability to break defenders down off the dribble and drive to the basket.
Brown needs to have a big game in order for Toledo to upset the country’s second-ranked team. The presence of 6-foot-11 center Jahlill Okafor in the paint will limit Brown’s opportunities to score in the interior; as a result, the Rockets will rely on Brown to convert on several 3-point attempts at a high percentage.
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