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Duke Basketball: 3 keys to beat Michigan State in 2020 Champions Classic

By Matthew Travis

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: General view of Cameron Indoor Stadium before the game between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels on March 07, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: General view of Cameron Indoor Stadium before the game between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels on March 07, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Jack White Duke Basketball (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Jack White Duke Basketball (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3. Get the Ball in the Right Hands

Duke had a bizarre starting lineup on Saturday as Joey Baker cracked the starting five alongside Jordan Goldwire, Jalen Johnson, Wendell Moore, and Matthew Hurt. Baker would prove to be the wrong choice as he played 15 minutes while scoring only two points with four rebounds, an assist, and two turnovers.

If Duke wants to beat Michigan State, Coach K MUST give the right players the minutes they deserve. DJ Steward was more than impressive off the bench as he went for 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. This being said, Steward MUST start on Tuesday.

In addition to Steward being added to the starting five, I believe Jeremy Roach should be as well, replacing Jordan Goldwire. Goldwire should still get a good amount of minutes off the bench, but I believe Roach should be the one starting.

All that being said, I believe this is what Duke’s starting five should look like:

If that is the case, I believe Jordan Goldwire and Mark Williams should be getting the most minutes off the bench with Joey Baker, Jaemyn Brakefield, and Patrick Tape maybe getting a couple as well if needed.

Michigan State has gone with a two-guard, three-forward set in each of their two games, and I believe if Duke goes with the starting lineup above, that would be perfect on the defensive side of the ball.

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Michigan State has played a center in only nine minutes over the course of their two games, which means Duke likely won’t need to go big with Mark Williams or Patrick Tape too much on Tuesday. That being said, if Duke goes with that starting five while giving Goldwire, Williams, Baker, and Brakefield minutes off the bench, they should have favorable matchups for a majority of the game.

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