Duke Basketball: Blue Devils will be fine after Boston College loss

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 11: Cameron Crazies and fans of the Duke Blue Devils hold up signs following the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 99-69 and the win gives Mike Krzyzewski his 1,000th victory as Duke's head coach and his 1,073rd overall (73 at Army). (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

3 of 6

DURHAM, NC – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils reacts while looking toward a referee during their game against the South Dakota Coyotes at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 96-80. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Gary Trent Jr. is back

If you ask me to look at one major positive from the game, it was the shooting of Gary Trent Jr.

After multiple games where his dismal performances from three could be directly attributed to why games against weaker opponents were close, he went six for thirteen from behind the arc – which is impressive even in a loss. Add that to his one turnover for the game, and Trent played his best game of the season.

In fact, you could even say that this game would have been a blowout if not for the shooting of Trent. His 25 points were necessary to keep this game even close, otherwise, we might be talking about a double-digit blowout to an expected ACC bottom feeder, which is not a good look from the No. 1 team in the country.

Apart from Marvin Bagley’s average – well at least average for a phenomenal talent like him – performance, you could say that Trent was the only player who performed well in this game.

If he can continue to shoot like he did against the Eagles and, the rest of the team does not play as poorly as they did against Boston College, Duke is looking at a valuable emergence even in a dismal loss.

Home/Duke Blue Devils