The Utah Utes look for a statement win after winning five of their last six games. The Utah Utes are averaging 82.1 points on 48 percent shooting and allowing 74.2 points on 43.4 percent shooting. Jakob Poeltl is averaging 19.1 points and 9.5 rebounds while Jordan Loveridge is averaging 14 points and 2.3 assists. Kyle Kuzma is the third double-digit scorer and Brandon Taylor is dishing 3.8 assists. The Utah Utes are shooting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc and 73.2 percent from the free throw line. Utah is allowing 42.3 percent shooting and is forcing 10.8 turnovers per game. The Utah Utes have won six of their last nine neutral games.
Utah continues to quietly rack up wins, as the dark horse for the PAC-12 title has won five of their last six games. Recently known more for their stout defense, Utah’s offensive explosion has been the story of 2015-16. The Utes average 80.6 points per game and have scored at least 90 points in three of their last five games.
Utah legitimately has an opportunity to upset Duke, but will need a massive game from Jakob Poeltl, as well as an even bigger game from whichever player ends up guarding Grayson Allen. As already noted, Amile Jefferson, who is averaging a double-double, is out for the game meaning that there may not be a better time for the Utes to pull off a major upset over an elite team.
That being said, I am not sure the Utes’ defense is up to the task of stopping Allen, Brandon Ingram, and Matt Jones for the entirety of the game. Allowing over 70 points per game, this is not the Utah defense of the past few seasons.
Expect Poeltl to dominate inside without Jefferson available, but the Blue Devils to pull off the win, as Duke continues to prove why it deserves to be a top 10 team heading into conference play.
Utah is a great offensive team that has the advantage over Duke in the paint with Poeltl and Kuzma. On a neutral court, I see this game coming down to the wire with Duke eking out a 76-72 win.
This is an excerpt from an extended preview that can be read at DukeBlogger.com.
