NBA Draft Watch: Game of the Day/Prospects of Note, January 14th (Syracuse at #1 Duke)
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| Cam Reddish, Duke (Photo Credit: Mark Walheiser/Associated Press) |
Duke and Coach K.
Syracuse and Jim Boheim.
Syracuse and Jim Boheim.
The talent on the floor for each roster differentiates in substance, style, and so far this season a small amount of success separating the two teams.
Duke definitely is a different type of college basketball team — with the chance to not only win a National Championship, but ultimately become an unforgettable squad in the history of the sport and the memory of fans who even casually care for the game.
The Blue Devils will look to defend home court in the name of their coach and number one ranking in the country. Having only one loss, not suffering defeat since November 21, 2018 to Gonzaga in the Championship Game of the Maui Invitational, Duke nearly dropped it's second game of the season on Saturday at Florida State — narrowly escaping with a three point shot by Cam Reddish off a cunning out of bounds play by the Hall of Fame Mike Krzyzewski, perfectly executed to sink the shot with less than a second left to give them a 70-68 victory.
Without the Zeus-like, Zion Williamson the entire second half — after he was struck in the face, being poked directly in the eye on a drive to the basket in the first half — Cam Reddish stepped up and had one of his most impressive performances this season, scoring 23 points, symbolizing signs of his profile being a smooth scoring wing at 6'8 . Reddish was considered amongst the top few recruits in the country along with Williamson and teammate RJ Barrett and remains so in the realm of potential draft picks.
His role as the third option in the offense often at times has evidently effected his rhythm and reflects in his overall efficiency. But his effective energy against a dogged defensive team in Florida State, with a large void of productivity having to be accounted for without Williamson on the floor, displayed his dexterity as a prospect. Sniffing out in any space to pull up in the face of the defense from three successfully a few times and showing off his ability to finish with finesse.
His role as the third option in the offense often at times has evidently effected his rhythm and reflects in his overall efficiency. But his effective energy against a dogged defensive team in Florida State, with a large void of productivity having to be accounted for without Williamson on the floor, displayed his dexterity as a prospect. Sniffing out in any space to pull up in the face of the defense from three successfully a few times and showing off his ability to finish with finesse.
Not to be outdone or overlooked RJ Barrett was the most dominant player on the floor for both teams against Florida State, finishing with 32 points. Zion Williamson aside, Barrett has been emerged as one of the preeminent NBA prospects to play at the college level in recent memory, considering his combination of production and potential. There are certainly improvements that will increase the immense talent the kid from Canada carries as a confident player, crazily, which is the scary part as he has a lot of physical attributes comparable to some of the most competent wings in the league, and surpasses more than a couple of them in terms of development when comparing to this point in his career.
Determinedly downhill when driving to the basket with above-average functional athleticism and enough of awareness and ability to attack all three levels — though it is yet to be defining stages yet— Barrett is a damn good and near, if not, an elite prospect who should have an interesting matchup against Syracuse tonight and it's disciplined zone defense (holding opponents to 39.1 field goal percentage and 61.7 point per game).
Determinedly downhill when driving to the basket with above-average functional athleticism and enough of awareness and ability to attack all three levels — though it is yet to be defining stages yet— Barrett is a damn good and near, if not, an elite prospect who should have an interesting matchup against Syracuse tonight and it's disciplined zone defense (holding opponents to 39.1 field goal percentage and 61.7 point per game).
Usually lined up playing at the top of the 2-3 zone for Syracuse is shooting guard/wing Tyus Battle. Battle mostly receives attention as a steady scorer since arriving as a freshman, with natural NBA size for his position at 6'5, 205 pounds and a game reminiscent of a 90's 2-guard, he prefers to operate offensively from inside the arc (84 two point jump shots attempted, 59 three point field goals attempted). His suitable stature is also of benefit on the defensive end, where he's made strides each season into becoming a sound, if not strong individual defender within the effective zone team defense.
Boheim and Battle bring the Orange into battle against Duke, coming off a 73-59 loss to Georgia Tech at home after having won its first two games verse in-confernce, ACC opponents Clemson and Notre Dame. At 11-5 and currently unranked, a win for the Orange against the Blue Devils would be a resounding result on their resume come time for March Madness and may potentially give Battle an extended chance to receive exposure as a prospect — having initially entered his name into the NBA Draft after last season before deciding to withdraw from the 2018 NBA Draft and return to school for his junior year.
How Battle plays tonight against Duke will be prodded amongst NBA teams when evaluating him as a prospect and potential capability against the type of players he would see at the next level.
How Battle plays tonight against Duke will be prodded amongst NBA teams when evaluating him as a prospect and potential capability against the type of players he would see at the next level.
Fortunately for Battle he has a buddy in O'Shae Brissett that has experience against Duke as well, having put up 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, two steals, and one block in the 69-65 loss to end Syracuse season last year in the Sweet Sixteen.
Granted it was a different Duke squad in majority, but having gone against the soon-to-be second overall pick, Marvin Bagley, and Wendell Carter in the front court, but Brissett, too, was one of the most impressive players on the floor — as a freshman.
This season putting up 13.9 points per game and leading the team in rebounding (8.1) Brissett has been productive, despite not seeing his shot fall from the perimeter (26.5 3-point percentage, 12-41 on 2-point jumpers) as much as he'd like as a pick and pop option. Though he has improved in his overall efficiency from inside the arc, specifically in his ability and comfort to put the ball on the floor and finish at the basket.
Granted it was a different Duke squad in majority, but having gone against the soon-to-be second overall pick, Marvin Bagley, and Wendell Carter in the front court, but Brissett, too, was one of the most impressive players on the floor — as a freshman.
This season putting up 13.9 points per game and leading the team in rebounding (8.1) Brissett has been productive, despite not seeing his shot fall from the perimeter (26.5 3-point percentage, 12-41 on 2-point jumpers) as much as he'd like as a pick and pop option. Though he has improved in his overall efficiency from inside the arc, specifically in his ability and comfort to put the ball on the floor and finish at the basket.
Battle and Brissett will be joined by a transfer from East Carolina Elijah Hughes, now in his first season of eligibility with Syracuse. Second on the team in scoring, averaging 15 points per game, the 6'6 Hughes is utilized primarily as a shooter from the wing (115 three's attempted out of 183 total shots attempted) where he can be streaky at times but is certainly a threat — made six 3's against Notre Dame, scoring 22 points, with 10 rebounds. With varying effectiveness on defense and as a rebounder, Hughes' underlying versatility will likely be needed in an upset of the Blue Devils.
Not to be forgotten, directing the floor for Duke is freshman point guard Tre Jones. Often overlooked as amongst the four freshman starters along with Williamson, Barrett, and Reddish, Jones does an awesome job as a playmaker (averaging 5.9 assists per game to a single turnover), who more than occasionally relinquishes ball-handling duties to his aforementioned teammates.
Not one to go hunting for his shot (1.8 3-point attempts per game on 29.6 percent, 1.6 free throws per game on 58.3 percent), Jones still is an effective player on both sides of the floor (44.2 percent from the field, 1.9 steals per game) with a poise and feel for the game that is reminiscent of his older brother Tyus, whose carved out a role as a reputable floor general in the NBA.
Not one to go hunting for his shot (1.8 3-point attempts per game on 29.6 percent, 1.6 free throws per game on 58.3 percent), Jones still is an effective player on both sides of the floor (44.2 percent from the field, 1.9 steals per game) with a poise and feel for the game that is reminiscent of his older brother Tyus, whose carved out a role as a reputable floor general in the NBA.
Duke and viewers across the world will certainly wish for Zion Williamson's health to play against Syracuse, since he did not return to their most recent matchup against Florida State after being removed upon having his eye poked. Williamson has become a superstar in the sport's world, handing off highlights with nearly every game, while receiving an amount of attention and comparisons unmatched for a player yet to reach the NBA since LeBron James.
Whether the comparisons to LeBron are fair or not, we've yet to see someone dominate the sport of NCAA Basketball in a similar level effecting the overall game with their unmatched unification athletic ability and skill like Williamson.
He certainly still has room for growth to fulfill his full plate of potential, but there is hardly anything that Zion Williamson has yet to show he can't do. Recently silencing some of the critique about his ability to strike from distance (28.6 3P%), knocking down five of his last nine three point attempts.
People hate that we talk about Zion Williamson so much & I don’t get it. His PER is 43.1. Let me say that again. It’s 43.1. 👀. The avg PER is 15. Zion’s PER is the highest in recorded history of college basketball. #Facts @GetUpESPN— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) January 10, 2019
He certainly still has room for growth to fulfill his full plate of potential, but there is hardly anything that Zion Williamson has yet to show he can't do. Recently silencing some of the critique about his ability to strike from distance (28.6 3P%), knocking down five of his last nine three point attempts.
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