The Duke Blue Devils, currently sitting at 18-1 with a perfect 7-0 record in ACC play, are the only undefeated team in the conference. Their recent performance has been nothing short of impressive, as they’ve secured two consecutive victories by margins of 20 points or more. This consistency has sparked hope that the team is finally finding its offensive rhythm after a season filled with uncertainty on that end of the court.

Throughout the early stages of league play, despite their wins, there were lingering questions about how Duke would operate offensively. The team had shown moments of brilliance but also inconsistencies, particularly in their shot selection. At times, the Blue Devils leaned heavily on three-point attempts, which wasn’t necessarily the best approach for a team built on size and versatility.

Head coach Jon Scheyer has always emphasized positional length and adaptability. His philosophy revolves around attacking from the inside out, and it’s clear that this strategy is starting to pay dividends. In their last few games, Duke has demonstrated a renewed focus on dominating in the paint, which has become a key factor in their success.

Duke Dominates in Paint Once Again

In their latest matchup against Wake Forest, the Blue Devils showcased their dominance in the paint, scoring 48 of their 90 total points within that area. Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons could only manage 16 points in the same zone. Over the past three games, Duke has outscored opponents 134-52 in the paint, creating an impressive +82 point margin. Additionally, the team has averaged 14.3 offensive rebounds per game during this stretch, highlighting their ability to control the boards.

With their elite size, Duke becomes nearly unstoppable when the ball gets inside the paint early. This inside-out approach has proven to be a winning formula, and coach Scheyer is confident in this strategy.

“I think for us, not to get bored with what’s working,” Scheyer said after the win over Wake Forest. “That was our advantage in this game. It’s our advantage probably most games with how we’re trying to play.”

He continued, “If you think about the free throws and the points in the paint, that’s 69 points in the paint or at the foul line.”

The Blue Devils put together one of their best performances of the year at the free-throw line against Wake Forest, shooting an impressive 21-of-24 (88%) as a team.

Duke is clicking offensively, and although there are still questions to figure out about the team, there’s no question that the Blue Devils are heading in the right direction.

Could Weather Affect Duke’s Next Game?

Looking ahead, Duke is set to face No. 23 Louisville (13-5, 3-3 ACC) at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Monday night. However, an impending snowstorm may cause some disruptions to the contest. Originally scheduled to tip off at 5:45 pm ET, the game was moved up to 12:00 pm ET due to weather concerns.

Stay tuned for more updates on Duke basketball as the team continues to build momentum. Keep up with all the latest news by following us on social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

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