Duke Basketball: 3 keys for the Blue Devils versus Florida State
By Zach De Jong
1. Bury open 3-pointers
The Seminoles are one of the tallest teams in the nation, averaging a height of 6-foot-6. Because of their size and ability to block shots it makes it hard for opposing teams to penetrate and finish in the lane. Unfortunately, the Blue Devils have had a hard time this year knocking down the 3-point shot. They have shot 32.2% on the year, which has them ranked 266th in the nation in percentage.
Luckily for the Blue Devils, they have had co-captain Jack White on the floor. White has become one of the Blue Devils’ most important role players and is the ultimate “glue guy.” He is the best 3-point shooter on the team, shooting 39.6% from behind the arc. White loves to sneak into the corners of the floor and knock down the big trifectas. Having White on the floor is a recipe for success, not only for spreading out the defense, but also impacting all aspects of the game.
Another impact player for knocking down threes is freshman Cam Reddish. Blue Devil fans are becoming concerned with Reddish as he has slipped into an extended slump. His slump started out as just a shooting slump but has now turned into an overall slump on the offensive end of the floor. In the Blue Devils’ first two ACC conference games, Reddish has struggled to even catch, dribble, or pass the ball.
Even with Reddish struggling shooting the ball – he is still shooting 33.7% from the 3-point line on the year. It would be huge for the Blue Devils to get Reddish rolling again on the offensive side of the ball. When Reddish is an elite shooter like he is known for, the Blue Devils become another degree of deadly. The Blue Devils love to slash and get into the heart of the defense. If they can make the Seminole defense respect them from distance, it could really open up the rest of the floor.