The Duke Blue Devils get to play a role the five-time national champions aren’t accustomed to on Tuesday night: the underdog.
Cooper Flagg and his teammates have rebounded nicely with two consecutive wins, including a ranked victory over Arizona on the road on Friday night, but the Blue Devils battle the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks in Las Vegas this week.
The Jayhawks, led by longtime head coach Bill Self, remain undefeated for the season thanks to a home victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels. Thanks to some massive transfer acquisitions over the past two offseasons, they started the year atop the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. While there’s no reason to knock them from the perch on paper, however, ESPN Analytics isn’t sold on the idea that Duke is an inferior team in this matchup.
Here’s a quick introduction to the No. 1 team in the country ahead of Tuesday night’s game at T-Mobile Arena.
2024-25 Record and Advanced Metrics
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Record: 5-0
Points per Game: 83.6
Points Allowed per Game: 67.6
KenPom Adjusted Efficiency Ranking: 9th (out of 364 teams)
Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 13th
Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 14th
What are the Jayhawks best at?
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Kansas doesn’t give its opponents free possessions. Through five games in the 2024-25 season, KenPom tracks their turnover rate at 12.8%, the 11th-best in the entire country. That discipline likely comes with experience as the Jayhawks are also the oldest team in the country. Kansas averaged 3.44 years of experience across its roster, more than double the national average, and the four Jayhawks with the most minutes are all seniors.
What has Kansas struggled with?
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas is a well-rounded team with few holes, but it tracks outside the top 270 in offensive rebounding percentage and free-throw rate. Considering that the Blue Devils just battled back Arizona, the best rebounding team in the country, on the boards, Duke can really take advantage of these two spots.
Statistical Leaders
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Points: Hunter Dickinson, 17.8
Rebounds: Hunter Dickinson, 10.4
Assists: Dajuan Harris Jr., 5.2
Blocks: Hunter Dickinson, 1.8
Steals: Hunter Dickinson, 1.8
FG%: Flory Bidunga, 82.6%
3PT%: David Coit, 42.9%
Player to Watch
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Hunter Dickinson is one of the most respected players in the country, and when fans consider the statistics shown above, it’s easy to see why. Including this season so far, the former Michigan Wolverine has averaged at least 17.8 points every year since 2021-22. He pulled down 10.9 rebounds per game last season, his first year with the Jayhawks, en route to a Second Team All-America selection. A 7-footer who averages nearly two steals and two blocks per game will swing plenty of games in his favor.
The Duke Blue Devils get to play a role the five-time national champions aren’t accustomed to on Tuesday night: the underdog.
Cooper Flagg and his teammates have rebounded nicely with two consecutive wins, including a ranked victory over Arizona on the road on Friday night, but the Blue Devils battle the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks in Las Vegas this week.
The Jayhawks, led by longtime head coach Bill Self, remain undefeated for the season thanks to a home victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels. Thanks to some massive transfer acquisitions over the past two offseasons, they started the year atop the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. While there’s no reason to knock them from the perch on paper, however, ESPN Analytics isn’t sold on the idea that Duke is an inferior team in this matchup.
Here’s a quick introduction to the No. 1 team in the country ahead of Tuesday night’s game at T-Mobile Arena.
2024-25 Record and Advanced Metrics
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Record: 5-0
Points per Game: 83.6
Points Allowed per Game: 67.6
KenPom Adjusted Efficiency Ranking: 9th (out of 364 teams)
Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 13th
Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 14th
What are the Jayhawks best at?
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Kansas doesn’t give its opponents free possessions. Through five games in the 2024-25 season, KenPom tracks their turnover rate at 12.8%, the 11th-best in the entire country. That discipline likely comes with experience as the Jayhawks are also the oldest team in the country. Kansas averaged 3.44 years of experience across its roster, more than double the national average, and the four Jayhawks with the most minutes are all seniors.
What has Kansas struggled with?
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas is a well-rounded team with few holes, but it tracks outside the top 270 in offensive rebounding percentage and free-throw rate. Considering that the Blue Devils just battled back Arizona, the best rebounding team in the country, on the boards, Duke can really take advantage of these two spots.
Statistical Leaders
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Points: Hunter Dickinson, 17.8
Rebounds: Hunter Dickinson, 10.4
Assists: Dajuan Harris Jr., 5.2
Blocks: Hunter Dickinson, 1.8
Steals: Hunter Dickinson, 1.8
FG%: Flory Bidunga, 82.6%
3PT%: David Coit, 42.9%
Player to Watch
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Hunter Dickinson is one of the most respected players in the country, and when fans consider the statistics shown above, it’s easy to see why. Including this season so far, the former Michigan Wolverine has averaged at least 17.8 points every year since 2021-22. He pulled down 10.9 rebounds per game last season, his first year with the Jayhawks, en route to a Second Team All-America selection. A 7-footer who averages nearly two steals and two blocks per game will swing plenty of games in his favor.
