“How to Slow Down Duke: Key Takeaways from a Dominant Performance Against Wofford” Saturday November 16 2024
In North Carolina, Duke dismantled Wofford with sixteen three-pointers. Duke moved the ball exceptionally well, leaving Wofford unable to close out effectively beyond the arc. Duke’s Tyrese Proctor frequently drove and kicked the ball with ease, setting up open shots. The Blue Devils secured numerous chase-down rebounds that led to more uncontested threes. Wofford was heavily outmatched and struggled to keep up with Duke’s relentless pace. Maluach executed several pick-and-roll plays, finishing with easy dunks. Duke also found success lobbing over the defense to Maluach, who rolled to the basket for straightforward finishes.
A slight bright spot for Wofford was Filipewich, who, despite standing at only 6’9″, had the tough assignment of defending Maluach. Duke’s sharp passing repeatedly generated open three-point looks, contributing to the lopsided outcome. The game was never close, with Wofford losing by 51 points.
To have a chance at beating Duke, opposing teams must limit Proctor’s drives and dishes, prevent over-the-top passes to Maluach, and contest three-point shots aggressively. It’s easier said than done, but these strategies are key to slowing down Duke.
Stopping Maluach from entering the paint is crucial—force him to shoot from outside or beyond the midrange. He hasn’t shown a consistent ability to put the ball on the floor. Cooper Flagg should be forced to take shots; he seems to make his teammates better when distributing the ball. Proctor is a reliable three-point shooter, and teams will need multiple guards or speedy defenders, as Kentucky did, to slow him down or pressure him full-court.