I wouldn’t mind playing UK again. They have gotten much better, but there’s not a single matchup in that game that concerns me.
UK and UVA are very, very good teams. Let's be clear about that. But both are horrible matchups for Duke. In Duke's favor.
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Excluding the Fluke Syracuse game, Duke's biggest problem in our loss (or near loss), has been the presence of a C that can make 3s. Bolden hedges on the perimeter a lot. Vs a non-shooting C, he can recover on D. If that opposing C can make open 3s, we are in trouble.
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UVA and UK don't have perimeter oriented Cs. Well, UVA's backup can make threes, but their D can't hold up to RJ and Zion with him instead of Salt.
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UK's resurgence has been built on the emergence of guys that will get dominated by RJ and Zion. Further, their D has improved tremendously because Hagan takes the other team's ball handler out of the game. That doesn't work vs Duke, because Cam and RJ can handle team running duties.
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In short, teams whose success lies in defense will have trouble vs Duke. RJ and Zion are simply un-guardable at the college level. Duke can score points. To beat us, you have to slow us down (because you aren't going to stop us) as much as possible.
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And score a poop ton of points.
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As such, the teams I'm worried about are the Zags and the Holes. They are the squads that can run out 3-4 40% three point shooters. Those are always dangerous. Those teams are less reliant on their D to win games, while possessing lethal (or potentially so) offenses.