As the Duke Blue Devils get set to kick off the season, it would be easy for the team to overlook their first opponent for their next one.
The team welcomes the Georgia State Panthers to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday night and has a heavily anticipated game on Nov. 13 against No. 3 ranked Kentucky. In his 33 years as Duke's head coach, Mike Krzyzewski has never let his team overlook an opponent and he won't start now.
The head coach has made that known to his assistants and to the players.
"We know they are very well coached," said assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski, according to Georgia State Sports. "Early in the season to play a team that plays a lot of different defenses, especially zone defenses, is unusual. We're going to have to handle those defenses and attack them in an organized manner.
Duke finished 13-3 in the ACC and with a 27-7 overall record last season, but was knocked out in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The team is ranked eighth in the nation in the AP Top 25 and is looking to start the season on a winning note after getting upset 75-70 to 15th-seeded Lehigh.
"The history of our program has been based on really sound, good defense, and team defense. I don't think we had that (last season)," said Krzyzewski.
The team was exceptional on defense last season, ranking 16th in the nation with 77 points per game. The main problems for the team were on defense and with ball movement. Duke was the 204th ranked team in assists and allowed with only 12 per game.
"I think we beat teams offensively last year, and when you don't have the defense, you lose out on certain toughness and togetherness that's only found, really, by doing stuff on the defensive end of the court," said Krzyzewski.
The team lost its top scorer in Austin Rivers to the NBA Draft, but has a talented team that is ready to step up. Seth Curry will take a bigger role in the offense and the return of Mason Plumlee will give the Blue Devils size and athleticism in the middle. Plumlee's brother Miles graduated last season.
"It's his time to be the key guy," Krzyzewski said. "Ryan and Seth are also key guys, but Mason is the key guy. I love when a guy wants that. He owns it."
The senior forward from Indiana averaged nearly a double-double last season and led the team in rebounding.
Senior Ryan Kelly will also have a chance to step up after the graduation of Plumlee.
"For a guy my size, I can shoot the ball pretty well, but I haven't completely shown my ability to score around the bucket with my back to the basket," Kelly said. "With Mason being such a great passer -- he can play really inside and out, too -- that dynamic will be really important for our team and something we're going to have to take advantage of."
Curry scored 13.2 points last season while making 42 percent of his shots. The senior guard worked over the summer on his defense and expects Georgia State to play hard.
"We have to attack that zone with good shots," Curry said, according to Georgia State Sports. Our guards have to concentrate on getting back and not let them get easy baskets. If we get back we'll be fine."
Freshman guard Rasheed Sulaimon will have a chance to shine as well after the Blue Devils lost guard Austin Rivers to the NBA Draft.
"We have a lot of guys on our team that can shoot," Sulaimon said. "All the guys really can shoot on the perimeter. But that's what's going to make our team special this year, is that we not only have guys who can shoot but we have guys who can create off the dribble as well."
On the line Friday for Duke is an impressive 94 straight non-conference home victory streak. The team always plays well at Cameron Indoor and is facing off against Georgia State for the first time in school history.
"I think we're going to be better defensively," Krzyzewski said. "We're not going to be a pressing team, but I think in the half court, if we can limit second shots, keep people out of the paint and not give up open 3s -- with our length, we should be able to get to people and kind of bother their shots. We want to be an outstanding half-court defensive team."
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