Should be an interesting clash of positional strengths and weaknesses, with ND heavily relying on guard play. Blake Wesley is the freshman PG who has saved ND from Prentiss Hubb’s unexpected demise as a basketball player. After leading ND in usage last season and being pretty good, Hubb has been awful in his senior season and has handed the keys over to Wesley. Wesley is more of a chucker than efficient for now, but he’s being asked to do a lot as a freshman (31% usage). He hit the game winner against Kentucky. His size (6-5) gives him some pro potential, and he should be expected to be great as a junior/senior.
ND’s scariest and most efficient offensive weapon is senior SG/SF Dane Goodwin. He’s shooting 47% from 3 and 93% from the line this season. It will be interesting to see whom on Duke is tabbed to guard this type of player, a fairly tall (6-6) guy who shoots and does nothing else offensively. Roach might not be able to bother his shots due to a lack of strength to get through screens and due to a lack of length, which would be a big problem if Goodwin starts raining 3s. Keels can probably do the job, but it could be a waste of Keels’ on-ball defense and ability to guard in the post. Moore’s defense is best used on the big point guard with 31% usage. When Hubb is on the court, the defensive assignments are clearer - Roach on Hubb, everyone else on Duke can easily match up somewhere.
