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Duke Basketball: 5 Questions for the game against South Dakota

By Taylor Sturm

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 29: Duke Blue Devils players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. Duke won 91-81. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 29: Duke Blue Devils players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. Duke won 91-81. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 23: General view of a rack of basketballs before the between the Portland State Vikings and the Duke Blue Devils during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 23, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. North Carolina won the game 102-78. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 23: General view of a rack of basketballs before the between the Portland State Vikings and the Duke Blue Devils during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 23, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. North Carolina won the game 102-78. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Can Gary Trent Jr. start hitting three-pointers?

It was not Marvin Bagley or Grayson Allen who won the game against Florida for Duke, but Gary Trent Jr.

Allen and Bagley played as they were expected and produced as they were expected to do, but Trent turned it up a notch offensively to help sneak by the ultra-talented Gators.

Trent is averaging 12.2 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game over 32.4 minutes per game when he is not one of the main scoring options on this Blue Devils’ squad, which is impressive in itself.

However, Trent is shooting a dismal 15-51 from the three-point line, including an 0-6 effort against Indiana and an 0-6 effort against Texas. Trent is a freshman, and it makes sense that he would struggle with inconsistency – but it is no coincidence that his shooting can be the difference between a close win and a blowout win.

The next four-game stretch against clearly inferior opposition will be the perfect time for him to step up and show off his skills, as well as build some much-needed confidence.

If Trent can start consistently hit from three, he can stretch the floor for the likes of Bagley and Allen — as well as raise his NBA Draft stock.

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