Blue Review: A 2021-22 Duke Basketball Recap – Game 21 vs Notre Dame
Monday night’s battle between a red-hot Notre Dame squad and Duke Basketball was potentially the ugliest shooting performance I’ve seen during all my years of Blue Devil fandom. Okay, so, that might be a bit of a stretch and don’t quote me on that unmeasured statistic, but the game was far from pretty. Duke, the best offensive team in the ACC, and the Fighting Irish, a squad loaded with shooters and scorers, combined for 100 points on 33.9% shooting from the field. Defensive gameplans from both teams were extremely sound in their approach, especially the Blue Devils, with Mark Williams’ presence on the interior seemingly affecting every Irish shot. It was Duke’s best game defensively, and their worst offensively, but they got the job done in South Bend – and did so rather comfortably in front of a sell-out crowd, winning 57-43.
In case you needed any reminder, Paolo Banchero is that guy. The freshman notably forced some shots in the first half but found his groove in the second. His uncanny ability to knock down any jumper within 15 feet is why he is one of the most touted prospects in college hoops. He moves like a guard and can elevate over frontcourt opponents. I think Banchero also needed a reminder that he can get a bucket wherever he wants within the arc. He doesn’t need to hoist up shots from the perimeter to be effective for this Duke Basketball team. Working it inside early and often is the recipe for success.
Mike Krzyzewski’s squad faced the daunting task of the Saturday-Monday turnaround, and although shooting woes were evident, they survived. The Blue Devils (18-3, 8-2 ACC) did enough to get out of Notre Dame (14-7, 7-3 ACC) with a victory and will now turn their focus towards the first of two final chapters for Krzyzewski in the UNC-Duke rivalry saga.
With offense cold, Duke’s defense earns the victory
Blue Devil players and coaching staff, from Krzyzewski to associate head coach Jon Scheyer to Wendell Moore Jr., lauded the team’s defensive identity in the preseason as their key to success. It was evident against the Irish, as Duke held leading scorer Dane Goodwin scoreless and star freshman Blake Wesley to 3-of-15 from the field and six points. Freshman guard Trevor Keels’ return to the lineup, provided both Moore and sophomore Jeremy Roach some much-needed rest, while also giving the Blue Devils a boost defensively. Keels is a ball hawk and has no qualms about defending an opposing guard for all 94 feet.
On the interior, Williams and Theo John dominated the Irish frontcourt. The duo had five of Duke’s six blocks and made life difficult for Notre Dame guards, including Welsey and Prentiss Hubb, trying to get looks in the paint. We’ve seen how Williams’ can sometimes extend too far from the basket and leave an opposing big man unguarded, hampering Duke’s rim protection. It happened a few times with Paul Atkinson Jr., who had 14 points on the night, but that won’t take away from Williams’ performance. The sophomore big was immense and if he can continue to improve in his offensive creation and shot making, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with come March.
Enjoy this absolute rejection from Williams too:
Option No. 2: A.J. Griffin
In November and December, it was evident that the 1-2 punch for the Blue Devils would be Banchero and Moore. In light of Moore’s recent offensive dip, the emergence of freshman wing A.J. Griffin can’t be understated. Far and away the best shooter on this team, Griffin, especially the game against Louisville, spaces the floor but can certainly get his own shot when necessary.
His form might be a tad unconventional, and he only attempted two 3-pointers against the Irish, but that doesn’t hinder him in being Duke’s best threat from distance. Griffin is shooting an otherworldly 50% from 3-point range this season, all the while seeing his ppg total steadily increase. His 13 points against the Irish were second on the team (behind Banchero) and he also tied Banchero with nine rebounds on the night.
I’ve said it time and time again, but this Duke squad has so many weapons. Banchero is obviously the go-to guy, but both Griffin and Keels are perimeter threats and Moore can serve as a good slasher when settled. Couple all of that with Williams’ improvement in the high post area with an already established dunker spot role, and this team is in business. Griffin and the rest of the Duke supporting cast will need to be dialed in on Saturday, because the Tar Heels will be locked in on Banchero.
The Blue Devils can win ugly games
My complaint from the Louisville game was that the Blue Devils struggled to put away bad or decent teams. We saw it in the two-point win against Clemson, and late game leads against Florida State and Miami (FL) evaporated and became losses. Duke Basketball took a step in the right direction against Notre Dame and did so in not-so-elegant fashion.
The aforementioned shooting struggles took a toll on both teams, but Duke stayed engaged defensively throughout all 40 minutes. Additionally, the Keels jumper with about five minutes left in the first half gave the Blue Devils a seven-point lead they never looked back from. A 9-0 run to close the half secured a favorable 13-point advantage at the intermission.
The Blue Devils held the Irish to 14 points in the first half and 43 points overall. They committed 14 turnovers and missed 16 of 19 3-point attempts and still won by double digits. It was a comfortably ugly win, and that’s what you need sometimes in these grueling conference road contests. Ultimately, Duke proved to themselves and the country they can win games with a burgeoning offense and a suffocating defense.
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