Duke vs. Kentucky: 5 biggest questions for 2018 Champions Classic game
5. Who will be the primary defender for Zion Williamson?
The biggest individual storyline of the early part of the season will be how Zion Williamson looks in the college game. He’s a player not like ever seen, listed at 6’6 and 275 pounds. He has the frame and physicality of a center while displaying the athleticism and explosiveness of a guard. In the preseason, the star freshman showed an ability to hit a three-pointer, which makes guarding him even more problematic.
It’s going to be a difficult task for opposing defenses when picking the right defender to guard Williamson, considering that there isn’t anyone out there of similar size. Good news for the ACC is that the Blue Devils will be dealing with a program who might have the blueprint to handling Williamson.
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Kentucky once again is loaded with NBA talent in both the perimeter and frontcourt. That includes a few newcomers that may give the Duke phenom fits. Keldon Johnson is a smaller version of Williamson at 6’6 and just 210 pounds but plays a physical style himself and might have the toughness to bang with him in the paint. Five-star forward EJ Montgomery has the athleticism to guard Williamson both inside and out and is the best post defender for the Wildcats. 6’8 sophomore forward PJ Washington is an underrated player on the roster and is the biggest on the roster to counteract him.
But the best defense for Williamson might be to make his defend all night, which is best suited for Reid Travis. The Stanford grad transfer averaged 19.5 ppg and 8.7 rpg last season and is one of the best post scorers in the country. It’s not known how good Williamson is as a post defender but we’ll find out against Kentucky.
The lineups involving Williamson for Duke will be interesting to watch, as he can play the 3,4, and 5 spots on the court. That will dictate how Coach Calipari operates his in response to avoid mismatches. But it could work the other way, with the Wildcats attempting to turn Williamson into a liability himself. It’ll be another chess match between two of the best coaches in the game, with the high school legend at the center of it.