After getting past upset-minded Utah on Friday, the top-seeded Blue Devils will take on second-seeded Gonzaga Sunday at 5:05 p.m. looking to advance to their first Final Four since 2010. Duke’s tournament run has been fueled by great individual play from freshmen Justise Winslow and Jahlil Okafor, as well as tremendous team defense by the Blue Devils. But the Bulldogs come into the Elite Eight with one of the most prolific offenses in the nation and will look to silence the doubters by clinching a spot in Indianapolis. Here are three keys to Duke notching another win and getting to the Final Four by claiming the South Regional title:
Get contributions from the bench
Duke’s starters have shown that they’re one of the most potent five-man units in the country. Yet the Blue Devils will be hard pressed to contend with one of the top teams in the country without key contributions from Amile Jefferson, Grayson Allen and Marshall Plumlee. Duke’s bench has averaged just six points per game in the last two tournament games and will look to provide a lift for the Blue Devils starting five Sunday. The trio is capable of affecting the game with more than just scoring.
Allen has shown the ability to space the floor on the perimeter and hit shots from beyond the arc when needed. Jefferson and Plumlee are capable of rebounding and defending in the paint and will be especially valuable against the combination of 7-foot-1 Prezemek Karnowski and 6-foot-10 Domantas Sabonis. With Duke playing on only a day of rest, it will be crucial for the Blue Devil reserves to make big plays when they step into the game.
Control tempo
Duke and Gonzaga are two of the best scoring offenses in the nation, ranking fifth and seventh respectively. But the Blue Devils will need to be cautious not to get into an up-down game with the Bulldogs. Duke has shown it is capable of scoring in the half-court by running the offense through Okafor down low and playing too fast could compromise the Blue Devils on defense.
Yet, Duke will also need to ensure that it doesn’t play too slow as the Bulldogs size in the frontcourt could make life tough in the paint. The solution for the Blue Devils will be to play at their pace and choose spots when to attack in transition. If Duke is able to play its type of game with Winslow and its guards dictating tempo, it stands a strong chance at pulling out the victory Sunday.
Win the battle of the backcourts
The Blue Devils' dynamic duo of freshman Tyus Jones and senior Quinn Cook will have its hands full against the experience of senior Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. The Gonzaga guards—who like the rest of the squad have been criticized for their inability to win big games—will be eager to make a statement on the biggest of stages Sunday. Both Pangos and Bell have shown the ability to hit shots from beyond the arc, where they shoot 44-percent and 36-percent, respectively. The duo is also capable of setting up open teammates in the paint with penetration or kick out to open shooters on the perimeter.
For Duke, the ability of Jones and Cook to coexist has been a revelation. The freshman Jones has shown his knack for big moments and has hit clutch shots in wins against Michigan State, Virginia and North Carolina. On the other hand, Cook has been the heart and soul of the Blue Devils all season long. In order to accomplish the senior’s dream of reaching the Final Four, the duo of Cook and Jones will need to come up big once again for Duke and prevent Pangos and Bell from stealing the spotlight on the big stage.
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