No. 5 Duke will have to open ACC play at Virginia Tech Saturday at noon without Grayson Allen, who is suspended indefinitely for tripping Elon's Steven Santa Ana Dec. 21. The Blue Zone takes a look at a player from each team who could be the difference-maker in the game following the Blue Devils' nine-day break for the holidays:
Duke: Guard Frank Jackson
After bursting onto the scene with double-digit scoring performances in the Blue Devils' first eight contests of the season, the freshman guard has quieted down. Jackson is averaging just six points in 20.5 minutes per game during the month of December—a diminished role that has been the result of a breakout season from Luke Kennard and Jayson Tatum's return from injury.
But Allen's suspension changes things for Duke and will likely give Jackson a chance to play critical minutes against an emerging Virginia Tech team. The Hokie backcourt features a pair of shifty 6-foot-1 guards in Seth Allen and Justin Robinson, both of whom could pose challenges for the Blue Devils on the offensive and defensive ends. Despite a lack of minutes in the past few weeks, Jackson is still shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line—steady marks that could help improve an already-efficient Duke offense while the preseason All-American Allen is sidelined for the start of ACC play.
With three other Blue Devils already averaging more than 14 points per contest, Duke will not be hurting for points even without Allen. In his absence, however, Jackson has an opportunity to build on his early-season emergence and finally take control of the point guard position. If the Alpine, Utah, native can do so in the coming weeks, the Blue Devils should be an even more dangerous offensive juggernaut going forward.
Virginia Tech: Guard Ahmed Hill
On an upperclassmen-laden Hokie unit, it has been a sophomore that has emerged as a weapon for the Virginia Tech offense. Hill is playing almost 30 minutes per game and has hit on 31-of-68 shots from beyond the arc—second-best on the team. He averages 14.6 points to go along with 3.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 75.2 percent from the charity stripe.
The Hokies second-leading scoring behind only Zach LeDay, Hill has started in all 11 matchups so far this season and will threaten a Duke defense that surrendered eight 3-pointers against Elon last week. Although the Blue Devils have improved defensively, holding their last three opponents to 61 points or fewer, Virginia Tech is putting up 83.8 points per contest—the fourth-highest mark in the ACC.
If the 6-foot-5 Augusta, Ga., native can get rolling Saturday and continue his hot shooting stroke from the floor, the Hokies should have a chance to remain undefeated at home this season and knock off the nation's fifth-ranked team.
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Twitter: @mpgladstone13
A junior from just outside Philadelphia, Mitchell is probably reminding you how the Eagles won the Super Bowl this year and that the Phillies are definitely on the rebound. Outside of The Chronicle, he majors in Economics, minors in Statistics and is working toward the PJMS certificate, in addition to playing trombone in the Duke University Marching Band. And if you're getting him a sandwich with beef and cheese outside the state of Pennsylvania, you best not call it a "Philly cheesesteak."