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Duke Basketball: 2019-20 keys to beat Michigan State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By Matthew Travis

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images) /

2. Stick to the Gameplan

Duke has been incredible on defense this season, letting up less than 65 points per game with an average of 9.6 steals to go with it. This plus the nearly 85 points they’re scoring per game, 43.3 rebounds and 15.5 assists, makes for a very good team.

If Duke can manage to put up numbers even close to this, there is absolutely no reason they should leave East Lansing without their second ranked win of the season.

In their first ranked win of the season against Kansas, the Blue Devils forced 28 turnovers out of the Jayhawks. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, the most Michigan State has turned the ball over in a single game was 16 against both Kentucky and Virginia Tech.

The Spartans turn the ball over an average of 11.6 times per game which is significantly lower than the 28 turnovers Kansas had against Duke, because of this Duke will likely have to force Michigan State to take bad shots and get the ball that way.

With this in mind you should expect to see junior point guard, Jordan Goldwire, get some significant playing time. Goldwire is a defensive specialist who can lock up just about anyone in the country.

It is for this reason that he got his first career start against Kansas in Duke’s first game of the season and it is for this same reason that you should expect to see him get 10-15 minutes against the Spartans.

While you are losing quite a bit on the offensive end with Goldwire, he more than makes up for it with his skills on defense and having a duo of both Goldwire and Tre Jones would be absolutely deadly against Michigan State’s backcourt of Cassius Winston and Rocket Watts.

Winston and Watts combine for almost 25 points, five rebounds and 8.3 assists per game and if Duke can potentially slow down this production by giving Goldwire significant time, this is something they will do.

Nonetheless, Duke MUST stick to their game plan, get back on defense, force Michigan State to take dumb shots and utilize their bench if they want to take down the Spartans on Tuesday night.

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