Game Preview: Duke vs Maine - SCACCHoops.com

Game Preview: Duke vs Maine

by DukeBlogger.com

Posted: 12/2/2016 10:00:04 AM


The Duke Blue Devils are 7-1 this season despite playing without several of their best players due to injuries.

Duke is averaging 84.6 points per game and they are shooting 47.7 percent from the floor including 34.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc while defensively they are allowing 64.2 points per game and their opponents are shooting 40.9 percent. Luke Kenard leads the Blue Devils averaging 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Grayson Allen is averaging 17.1 points and 5.3 rebounds for Duke, Frank Jackson is averaging 15.4 points, and Amile Jefferson is averaging 14 points and 9.9 rebounds. Duke appears t be poised for another NCAA Tournament run.

The Maine Black Bears are 2-5 this season and they have lost 4 of their last 5 games. Maine is averaging 70.7 points per game and they ae shooting 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and 31.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc while defensively they are allowing 78.8 points per game and their opponents are shooting 48.4 percent. Wesley Myers leads the Black Bears averaging 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Andrew Fleming is averaging 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Black bears, Ilker Er is averaging 9.9 points, and Marko Pirovic is averaging 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds. Maine hasn’t held up well against soft competition and likely they are in deep trouble here.

Junior guard Wesley Myers is the leading candidate to test Duke’s man-to-man defense Saturday. The Niagara transfer averages 12.7 points per contest and shoots 40.0 percent from 3-point range. Freshman forward Anthony Fleming is the team’s main threat down low with 10.7 points per contest and a 59.6-percent shooting clip, but the rookie could struggle against the savvy veteran Jefferson at just 6-foot-7 and 222 pounds.

One advantage Maine could have is its depth. Twelve Black Bears average at least 10 minutes per game, but Maine will have to find consistency to stay in Saturday’s contest.

Of note is as Marist did in Duke’s regular-season opener, Maine is expected to protest North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2. USA Today reported Thursday that the Black Bears will wear black and rainbow-themed warm-up shirts to protest that the law that limits protections for LGBTQ people and requires transgender people to use public bathrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates.

Notables:

  • INJURY REPORT
    • There are a few notes on status in the Duke Last Time section.
    • At the time of writing this preview, status has remained unchanged.

Endgame

The good news for Duke is that they are putting it together as a team. After a very flat first half against Michigan State, the Blue Devils made adjustments and took the game over.

This game will be a test of continuity – can the adjustments made in the Michigan State game carry over? If Duke can find consistently then the rest of the non-conference opponents should be fearful.

When Duke has had issues, they have been their own worst enemies. If Duke defends, stays engaged and takes care of the basketball then they should cruise.

Even though Maine goes deep and has a productive frontcourt, but even with Duke pulling their starters early this should be a mismatch from start to finish. Look for Duke to run away and hide, 91-65.

This article was originally published at http://www.DukeBlogger.com. If you are interested in sharing your website's content with SCACCHoops.com, Contact Us.

 


Categories: Basketball, Duke, UNC

Recent Articles from DukeBlogger.com


Recommended Articles



SCACC Hoops has no affiliation to the NCAA or the ACC
Team logos are trademarks of their respective organizations (more/credits)

Privacy Policy