NCAA Tournament 2022: 5 key storylines for Duke vs Texas Tech matchup

Frontcourt Battle

This is going to make or break the game as each team has their strengths in the frontcourt but for different reasons. Texas Tech loves to get inside the paint for the easy baskets but if they do that, they are going to be playing right into what the Blue Devils want them to do on the defensive end. Duke wins a lot of their games on their interior defense and Texas Tech scores a ton of points and wins most of their games on their interior offense. It will be a battle underneath for 40 minutes.

Let’s analyze each team and what they do well in the paint. The Red Raiders are one of the most efficient teams In the country with the two-point offense. They shoot 55% from inside the arc and they like to get most of their opportunities at the rim. Bryson Williams is the leader on the offensive end for the Red Raiders and he is going to work hard to get inside for the easy baskets.

Duke has an elite rim protector in Mark Williams and Paolo Banchero is a five-star freshman who can guard every position on the floor and is a good defender inside the paint. Williams and Banchero make it hard for opponents to score on them inside. The big man averages over two blocks per game and is a load to move and he doesn’t foul. Banchero averages a block a game and rarely fouls as well. They both have great feet and if they can keep Texas Tech out of the point and turn them into a jump-shooting team it will be advantage, Duke.

When the Blue Devils have the ball it will be more of the same on the inside. Duke likes to get downhill and get to the rim. They will throw lobs to Williams and Banchero all game if Texas Tech will let them. Duke is also extremely efficient from inside the three-point line. The difference is that the Red Raiders are one of the best defensive teams in the country and they allow nothing inside the paint at all.

They allow the fewest two-point baskets of any team in the country. It is a chore to even get into the paint against them. They play good defense and are not going to give Duke much at the rim. If they do get it into the paint it is likely going to be a tough hook shot or a contested jumper. That is just how the teams play on that side of the ball. Something has to give whoever can get into the paint and make their baskets is going to win this one.