ACC Basketball: 2018-19 storylines for Duke vs. Virginia rematch

2. Three-point shooting

In the last match up between these two, neither team was exactly lights out. Virginia shot 3-17 from three while Duke made two of their 14 attempts. While Duke as a team has struggled from distance this season and is not defined by their three-point percentage, the Cavaliers have elite talent from beyond the arc shooting just under 40 percent as a team this season.

The fact that they shot so poorly in the first match up and still managed to keep the game close throughout should make the Blue Devils uncomfortable. It is unlikely they will be silenced twice in two games, even if Duke is near flawless on defense. Junior guards Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy are capable of making tough guarded threes, having done so their entire careers. Duke of all teams should know what it feels like to be on the other end of a Ty Jerome deep three. A hot Jerome or Guy could see the Cavaliers pull away with a lead late.

The Blue Devils will either have to hope for another off night, or they will have to match the Cavaliers at the three-point line with shots of their own. Freshman tandem R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish will be relied on to keep up. They are shooting a lackluster 31 percent and 34 percent respectively from deep compared to Guy and Jerome’s 43 and 40 percent.  On the other hand, Jerome and Guy and the rest of the Cavaliers should feel the pressure to perform from three or they will be questioned again as a team who can’t perform when needed most.