There will be plenty of big men for Duke to attempt to slow in Miami. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY
Duke at Miami
When: 7:00 p.m.
Where: BankUnited Center, Coral Gables, Fla.
TV/Radio: ESPN/WKIX-102.9 FM
Compelling preview: Miami has plenty of what Mike Krzyzewski considers the most valuable asset in college basketball.
Projected starting lineups:
No. 1 Duke (16-1, 3-1 in the ACC)
G Quinn Cook, So., 11.5 ppg, 6.1 apg
G Seth Curry, Sr., 16.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg
G Rasheed Sulaimon, Fr., 11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg
F Josh Hairston, Jr., 1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg
F Mason Plumlee, Sr., 17.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg
No. 25 Miami (13-3, 4-0)
G Shane Larkin, So., 12.2 ppg, 3.9 apg
G Durand Scott, Sr., 13.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg
G Trey McKinney Jones, r-Sr., 9.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F/C Kenny Kadji, Jr, r-Sr., 12.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg
F/C Julian Gamble, r-Sr., 6.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Player to watch:
Josh Hairston, Duke
For the second time in three games without Ryan Kelly, Duke is facing a mismatch at the “4” position. Kenny Kadji is a big body (6-foot-11, 242 pounds) and he has the ability to both post up and shoot the 3. Given Amile Jefferson’s tendencies to foul, Hairston will need to play quality minutes against the most dangerous Hurricane on the floor.
Observations:
***Amile Jefferson said he felt much more comfortable against Georgia Tech than he did against N.C. State. And it showed on the floor, as he was much more vocal on the defensive end. Before his injury, Ryan Kelly was one of the team’s most vocal defenders.
“I’m starting to get a better feel for how we move as a team, things like that, “ Jefferson said. “And especially on switches, all those things.”
***Most Duke fans objected to a few of the foul calls on Jefferson in the N.C. State game. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski said Monday that he, too, found a few of the calls questionable.
“I thought when we played State, he had a couple calls where his hands were straight up, but he's so long, he's got a great wing span, that you're not accustomed to that, and then it can appear, well, maybe he fouled when he didn't,” Krzyzewski said. “Sometimes it comes where people who are officiating the game have to get accustomed to you.”
***Miami is ranked fourth in RPI and, depending on the source, either first or second in strength of schedule. The Hurricanes have three wins over teams ranked in the RPI top 50 (Michigan State, La Salle and North Carolina). Duke is ranked No. 1 in RPI and either first or second in strength of schedule, with five wins against top 50 teams (Minnesota, VCU, Louisville, Ohio State and Temple).
For all the latest Duke news, like Duke NOW on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
