I have season tix to GT so have seen most of their games this year. I have no clue what to expect from Duke but have some thoughts about what we're likely to see from the Bumble Bees.
Offeinsively, they will try to push tempo and get easy transition buckets when they have a chance. I think that will be a big point of emphasis for them after our awful transition D against VPI. In half court sets, they share the ball pretty well and look for open guys, but they are challenged offensively
Defensively, they play a lot of zone, mostly 1-3-1, a matchup and a 2-3. Some man to man, but they are pretty deficient on the wings, so they have been playing mostly zone recently
They are turnover prone, don't shoot well from the perimeter (though they have some guys capable of getting hot and they are a bad FT shooting bunch -- 67% as a team)
Starters & primary bench:
Ben Lammers. By far their most important player. Very good rim protector / shot blocker. Doe sit without fouling or jumping. Good rebounder, primarily due to smart positioning and blocking out. Offense is primarily post moves, drop steps and layups, although he has shown ability to knock down 12 foot face up jumpers at times. They have zero depth behind him so need him to pay 36 - 40 minutes. Foul trouble here would cripple them
Josh Okogie. Frosh who is capable of big scoring games (Tulane & UNC) but can also disappear. 6'4" wing with very long arms. No threat outside the lane but he loves to drive from the wings and is an effective finisher. Duke needs to stay in front of him and make him a jump shooter. Tends to try to do too much and can get himself in trouble. Foul and turnover prone but has also shown he can be a very solid on-ball defender.
Tadric Jackson. Generally, he's a turnover machine and producer of the worst shots ever seen. On occasion (UNC), he catches fire and plays well. When that happens, he makes them a much better team. Likes to take spot up threes or drive hard to the basket. Very very streaky. Atrocious man defender
Quinton Stephens. Senior. Loves to spot up and miss threes. Seriously. He shoots about 30% from the floor, both from 2 and 3. Can't drive or put the ball on the deck. Has become a better rebounder and is an ok defender against a 4 but lost if he has to cover a wing.
Justin Moore. Frosh point guard. Not bad running the team but struggles against strong ball pressure. Absolutely no outside shot but developing a little floater in the lane. Thin and weak, has trouble playing against stronger players.
Josh Heath. Senior PG. Slow and steady. Not a threat to do much but he doesn't generally turn it over. Awful defender. Doesn't usually hurt them offensively but doesn't help much either
Corey Heyward. 5th year PG. Best back court defender they have but he has no offense. Reluctant to shoot outside the lane. shaky ball handler who always tries to make the safe play.
Bench players we are less likely to see:
Christian Mathews. Frosh wing. Loves to shoot. Nice stroke if left alone for spot up jumpers. Completely lost on defensive end. Does not rebound. Have not seen him dribble drive or pass to post yet
Abdoulaye Gueye. (apologize if I misspelled his name). Backup front court behind Stephens. Awful. Just awful
Sylvester Ogbonda. Backup to Lammers. Awful.
Jodan Price. grad transfer. Has only played a few minutes this year. No impression
Kellen McCormick. grad transfer. Has only played minutes against NC A&T when he hit several 3s to save the day and "lead" them to a 2 point win.
Bottom line, we have to stop dribble penetration (esp Okogie), deny Lammers in the deep post, get back on transition D and get them in foul trouble (esp Lammers). On offense, we cannot settle for threes against the zone. Carolina did and it killed them. We need to penetrate and get the ball in the paint.
Offeinsively, they will try to push tempo and get easy transition buckets when they have a chance. I think that will be a big point of emphasis for them after our awful transition D against VPI. In half court sets, they share the ball pretty well and look for open guys, but they are challenged offensively
Defensively, they play a lot of zone, mostly 1-3-1, a matchup and a 2-3. Some man to man, but they are pretty deficient on the wings, so they have been playing mostly zone recently
They are turnover prone, don't shoot well from the perimeter (though they have some guys capable of getting hot and they are a bad FT shooting bunch -- 67% as a team)
Starters & primary bench:
Ben Lammers. By far their most important player. Very good rim protector / shot blocker. Doe sit without fouling or jumping. Good rebounder, primarily due to smart positioning and blocking out. Offense is primarily post moves, drop steps and layups, although he has shown ability to knock down 12 foot face up jumpers at times. They have zero depth behind him so need him to pay 36 - 40 minutes. Foul trouble here would cripple them
Josh Okogie. Frosh who is capable of big scoring games (Tulane & UNC) but can also disappear. 6'4" wing with very long arms. No threat outside the lane but he loves to drive from the wings and is an effective finisher. Duke needs to stay in front of him and make him a jump shooter. Tends to try to do too much and can get himself in trouble. Foul and turnover prone but has also shown he can be a very solid on-ball defender.
Tadric Jackson. Generally, he's a turnover machine and producer of the worst shots ever seen. On occasion (UNC), he catches fire and plays well. When that happens, he makes them a much better team. Likes to take spot up threes or drive hard to the basket. Very very streaky. Atrocious man defender
Quinton Stephens. Senior. Loves to spot up and miss threes. Seriously. He shoots about 30% from the floor, both from 2 and 3. Can't drive or put the ball on the deck. Has become a better rebounder and is an ok defender against a 4 but lost if he has to cover a wing.
Justin Moore. Frosh point guard. Not bad running the team but struggles against strong ball pressure. Absolutely no outside shot but developing a little floater in the lane. Thin and weak, has trouble playing against stronger players.
Josh Heath. Senior PG. Slow and steady. Not a threat to do much but he doesn't generally turn it over. Awful defender. Doesn't usually hurt them offensively but doesn't help much either
Corey Heyward. 5th year PG. Best back court defender they have but he has no offense. Reluctant to shoot outside the lane. shaky ball handler who always tries to make the safe play.
Bench players we are less likely to see:
Christian Mathews. Frosh wing. Loves to shoot. Nice stroke if left alone for spot up jumpers. Completely lost on defensive end. Does not rebound. Have not seen him dribble drive or pass to post yet
Abdoulaye Gueye. (apologize if I misspelled his name). Backup front court behind Stephens. Awful. Just awful
Sylvester Ogbonda. Backup to Lammers. Awful.
Jodan Price. grad transfer. Has only played a few minutes this year. No impression
Kellen McCormick. grad transfer. Has only played minutes against NC A&T when he hit several 3s to save the day and "lead" them to a 2 point win.
Bottom line, we have to stop dribble penetration (esp Okogie), deny Lammers in the deep post, get back on transition D and get them in foul trouble (esp Lammers). On offense, we cannot settle for threes against the zone. Carolina did and it killed them. We need to penetrate and get the ball in the paint.
