Duke Basketball: 5 items on the 2018-19 holiday wishlist for the Blue Devils
By Zach De Jong
2. Duke needs to take advantage of their free throws
Yes, it is those scary two words that Blue Devil fans have heard all year – free throws. The reason why it’s been hammered home all year is because it has been the Blue Devils largest weakness up to this point.
The Blue Devils are great at scoring in transition and attacking the basket, but this sort of play leads to a lot of free throws. The Blue Devils have had no problem getting to the line as they are ranked 31st in free throw attempts per game. Barrett and Williamson have been to the line most this year and have been a combined 68 percent from the charity stripe. As a team the Blue Devils are shooting 67.9 percent – which has them ranked 233rd in free throw percentage.
However, there has been good news recently in the free throw department. In their last two games the Blue Devils have shot 84 percent and 80 percent. These percentages are only taken from two games, but combined in these games they have gone forty-one of fifty from the free throw line. If the Blue Devils can continue these free throw numbers they could have almost no major weaknesses.
The free throws numbers will be a story to continue to watch into conference play. Hopefully the Blue Devil team can continue this trend of great free throw shooting the last two games in the conference schedule.