Duke Basketball: Keys for Blue Devils in revenge game against UNC

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 20: Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels tries to stop RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 02: Chris Lykes #0 of the Miami Hurricanes fouls RJ Barrett #5 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 02, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 87-57. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

1. RJ Barrett will need to continue to carry team with a massive game

With reports coming in that Williamson is likely to miss Saturday’s game, it’ll be vital for any potential victory that Duke’s other superstar RJ Barrett goes off. One of Mike Krzyzewski ‘s other freshman sensations, RJ, is averaging 23.3 PPG and 7.4 RPG on the year. These are some crazy numbers, especially playing ‘second fiddle’ to the biggest college basketball player in years.

Barrett is leading the ACC in points per game and will be one of the frontrunners for the Naismith College Player of the Year award – in a loaded class. On Saturday, he will prove to be the difference when it comes down to crunch time. He’ll be the one who has the ball in his hands when Duke will look to make any clutch basket, and he will deliver. He’s done just this whenever called upon this year, and as the far and away number one option, without Zion, he should thrive in these circumstances.

RJ scored 33 in the loss to UNC at Cameron Indoor, followed by 30 in the impressive win on the road in Syracuse. With no Zion, and even if he returns – a not fully 100% Zion – Barrett will be fundamental in pushing this Duke team over the line for the remainder of the season. Any tournament aspirations will be fuelled by his performances.

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