Key three: Duke can't get complacent against Boston College

With Hawkins lost for the season, Duke's guards will have an easier task in slowing down a more one-dimensional Eagles' offense.
With Hawkins lost for the season, Duke's guards will have an easier task in slowing down a more one-dimensional Eagles' offense.

After demolishing St. Francis and setting or getting close to breaking several records in the process, No. 1 Duke will look to improve to 12-0 in its ACC opener Saturday at Boston College. The Blue Zone gives three keys to the game for the Blue Devils.

Contain Robinson and Bowman

Boston College’s greatest strength lies in its high-scoring backcourt. Raleigh native Jerome Robinson is averaging 16.0 points per game and shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range, while fellow North Carolinian Ky Bowman has scored 15.8 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists.The pair combined for 44 points in their last matchup, a win against Hartford. 

But the Eagles recently lost their third-best scorer and top rebounder, forward Deontae Hawkins for the season due to a knee injury. With his absence, their offense will now be even more reliant on strong shooting from Robinson and Bowman in the backcourt—they could end up being one-dimensional. But if the Blue Devils’ backcourt does not lock in defensively and allows Robinson and Bowman to get hot, Boston College could have a chance to pull off the upset. 

Feed Bagley

Marvin Bagley III has been an unstoppable force for the Blue Devils in recent weeks on both ends of the floor. The freshman has notched six straight double-doubles, with his last two achieved in 28 minutes or fewer. In his last three games, he has scored 63 points on 69.2 percent shooting and pulled down 33 rebounds.

No team has been able to find an answer for Bagley and Boston College does not look to be any different. The Eagles only have one player 6-foot-10 or taller playing more than 12 minutes per game, so Bagley’s size advantage should allow him to score in the paint and grab many offensive rebounds.

Don’t get complacent

Duke dominated in its brief two-game homestand, downing South Dakota by 16 and Saint Francis by 57. The Blue Devils’ 124 points Tuesday were their highest-scoring output in 20 years. Duke has won by double-digits in all but three of its matchups this season, pulled off multiple second-half comebacks, and already defeated two top-five teams.

With so much success placing a target on their back, the Blue Devils will have to stay humble and not let their achievements get to their heads as they prepare to face Boston College, especially given their tendency to play down to their opponents at times. As head coach Mike Krzyzewski knows, there is no such thing as an easy road game in the ACC. Though the Eagles have lost two of their last three and are still reeling from Hawkins’ season ending-injury, they will be doing everything they can to upset the unanimous top team in the nation in front of their home crowd.

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