Duke vs. Florida: Who wins position battles in PK80 showdown?

Small forward: Gary Trent Jr. vs. Jalen Hudson

The wing for the Blue Devils has been a quality asset since the time he stepped on the court. Gary Trent Jr. is a versatile 6’6 player who can play and guard anywhere on the perimeter. While the team as a whole struggled against Texas, his 17 points were vital in keeping Duke in the game. That 17 has been his season-high, something he’s done three times.

This could’ve been an ACC Conference battle, as Florida’s Jalen Hudson was a former Virginia Tech Hokie before sitting out last season. He clearly did some work in his redshirt year, currently leading the team in scoring with 21.2 ppg. He dropped a career-high 35 against Gonzaga, hitting 8/12 from distance with many having a hand right in his face.

One issue that the Gators had last year was a prolific scorer, but, clearly, Hudson has taken on that responsibility. Even if the double overtime game is thrown out, he’s been impressive all season long and will provide just as big a problem for Trent as Miles Bridges did — mainly because he will pull up on a dime and shoot a dagger when needed.

Neither has a big edge over the other, but the explosive capabilities of one will make him a big factor for the game.

Edge: Hudson