Kyle Singler scored 19 points and added 10 rebounds, while Nolan Smith (15 pts), Jon Scheyer (12 pts), and Lance Thomas (12 pts) each added double-figures.
Duke started out very slow leading just 17-11 after the first 10 minutes, but went on a 17-0 run over the next 6 minutes. During that stretch Duke's defense was smothering as our factor of the game shows below.
While the defense was stifling, Duke's offense was disconnected and all too often relied on one-on-one play. Singler and Scheyer were the most consistent offensive performers in the halfcourt set for the Blue Devils. Duke played a number of different combinations which likely led to their inconsistency on the offensive end.
Positives
- 36 of Duke's 80 points came off of dunks and layups
- Duke defended the perimeter holding an aggressive three point shooting team to just 3-17 from behind the line
- Singler was clearly the best player on the floor. Singler made 8 of 9 free throws and used his entire skillset tonight while also playing pretty well on the defensive end.
- The point guard position was strong tonight as Smith started once again, but Greg Paulus came off the bench and tallied 4 steals.
Negatives
- Duke's center tandem of Brian Zoubek and Miles Plumlee combined for just 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 turnovers
- Duke forced 28 turnovers against just 4 assists for Presbyterian
- Gerald Henderson looked surprisingly uncomfortable on the floor. Henderson was hesitant to drive the ball and looked slow making decisions instead of just reacting.
Factor of the Game
Duke's defense gave them separation tonight as our game trends show. Below are the graphs for points and steal %, or the percentage of possessions in which Duke stole the ball. Duke's steal % stayed around 25% for most of the game but in their 17-0 run the Blue Devils saw the percentage go from 9% to 24%.
