College Basketball
Maui Invitational Preview: #1 Duke vs San Diego State
Tale of the Tape
The San Diego Atzecs enter the Maui invitational at 2-0, with blowout wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Texas Southern.
The Blue Devils, who are 15-0 in the Maui Invitational all time with five championships, enter their opening round game at 3-0. They have dominated Kentucky, Army West Point, and Eastern Michigan.
The Starters
San Diego State
Center – #05 Jalen McDaniels
Forward – #11 Matt Mitchell
Small Forward – #20 Jordan Schakel
Shooting Guard – #42 Jeremy Hemsley
Point Guard – #00 Devin Watson
Duke
Center – #20 Marques Bolden
Forward – #01 Zion Williamson
Small Forward – #05 RJ Barrett
Shooting Guard – #02 Cam Reddish
Point Guard – #03 Tre Jones
Statistics
San Diego State is led by senior guard Devin Watson in both points and assists. He has averaged 17.0 points per game going with his 5.5 assists per game. The Aztecs lack an elite rim protector, but forward Nathan Mensah has three blocks through two games which makes him the teams leader in blocks. As a team, the Aztecs are scoring 89.5 per game and defensively have only surrendered 62.0 points per game.
After Duke’s big win over Eastern Michigan, they now have a tie for the team leader in points per contest. Freshman RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson both average 25.3 points per game. Williamson also leads the team in rebounding, 10.7 per game, and blocks 3.0 per game. Freshman point guard Tre Jones has led Duke in the assist category, logging 7.3 per game. As a team, Duke has scored 97.8 points per game while only allowing 67.3 per game defensively.
Duke’s Key
The Blue Devils will have to force San Diego State to turn it over on offense. The Aztecs have turned the ball over 25 times through their first two games. If Duke can come up with steals and force errant passes, the Blue Devils will roll.
San Diego State’s Key
On the flip side, the Aztecs have to protect the ball. Duke is at their most lethal when in transition and if San Diego State turns the ball over like they have in their first two games, Duke will dominate this game from the tip.
Prediction
San Diego State will turn the ball over early and often and Duke will run up the score early on in the game. Despite Devin Watson’s best efforts, the Aztecs will be unable to climb back into the game.
Duke: 91
San Diego State: 78
Photo credit to Duke Basketball via Twitter
