Duke Basketball: 3 keys for Blue Devils to beat No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs

Use and protect Paolo Banchero against Gonzaga’s frontcourt

While the team battle is going to have everyone’s attention, so will be the individual matchup between Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren, the No. 1 and 2 ranked freshmen depending on how you view them. Both have been as good as advertised, including the star Blue Devils, currently averaging 17.8 ppg and 8.0 rpg on 55% shooting from the field, including 31% from three-point range.

In the biggest game Banchero has played so far, he went for a season-high 22 points on 7/11 shooting from the field against Kentucky in the Champions Classic. But it’s important to note that power forward was a position of weakness for the Wildcats and that the Duke freshman didn’t go up against center Oscar Tshiebwe too much either.

Gonzaga has the ability to match up with Banchero to a point, or at least as good as you can against the talented freshman. Holmgren is 7’1 and an elite shot-blocker, who is also good with being on the perimeter. The downside here is that Banchero is much bigger and can back the Bulldog forward down with ease. But assuming that centers Mark Williams and Theo John will be on the court to at the five-spot, it’ll be fairly crowded down there, with Drew Timme or Anton Watson of Gonzaga able to double-team in case Banchero is getting in the paint too easily.

One thing I like about Banchero is that he hasn’t forced the issue and took ill-advised shots just to do so. But if Gonzaga forces the issue and makes sure that he isn’t the reason Duke wins, how will he respond? And how will Banchero do defensively against either Holmgren or Timme inside? Kentucky was the first big game but Gonzaga will be the first true set of matchups to truly test Banchero, who needs to have a big game for them to have a shot.