Duke vs. Kentucky: 5 biggest questions for 2018 Champions Classic game

4. Will either team shoot well from deep?

A fatal flaw that Kentucky wasn’t able to overcome last season was the team’s ability to shoot from behind the arc. They ranked in the mid-300s overall in both attempts and makes and struggled to make shots in crunch time. The hope is that will a largely new crop of players that the same issues doesn’t come back.

However, there were concerning signs during the preseason. Against Transylvania, the Wildcats shot 1/13 from three-point range. It was better in the exhibition game versus IUP, they went 9/22. However, most of the makes came from freshman Tyler Herro, who went 5/7 himself. He’s a talented shooter and will get a larger role simply because he can spread the floor. As far as the others go, it’s still a question.

Duke was one of the better shooting teams last season thanks to Grayson Allen and Gary Trent Jr., a pair of guards who could go ballistic from deep in any given game. With them gone it’s not a given that the new group of freshmen will be able to do the same. Whether it’s RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Tre Jones, their ability to score isn’t dependent on shooting, as they tend to drive and create their offense in other ways.

Unlike the other Champions Classic game where a bunch of threes will be launched, this game is more likely to be decided inside the arc rather than outside. If the over/under in made three-pointers is at 12, I may be tempted to take the under, unless Herro goes off.