Quick Reaction: Duke Destroys Presbyterian, 113-44

Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

The Duke Blue Devils got their 2014-2015 season off to an easy start, dismantling Presbyterian Blue Hose by 69 points. It was easy pickings from the word go — the Blue Devils got off to a 12-2 start after three minutes and never looked back.

Here are some quick reactions from the game.

Jahlil Okafor looks like the real deal

Stats: 19 points, 9-10 FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block

It’s one game and Presbyterian didn’t put up a great fight, but Jahlil Okafor looked fantastic on both ends of the court. He was active on defense, fighting for position against opposing post players, and used his arms to cut off entry passes. He also found himself on the perimeter on a couple of possessions and did a good job of moving his feet and sticking with his player.

Offensively, Okafor was very patient. The Blue Devils ran their offense through him for the most part and it’s easy to see why. When Presbyterian doubled him, he calmly kicked the ball out to the perimeter and kept working for low post position. When he found himself in one-on-one situations, he took what the defense gave him instead of forcing shots. He knocked down a couple of jump shots off of face-ups and took his man off the dribble on a few occasions. Without the ball in his hands, Okafor moved to the open spot and created easy passing lanes for the guards.

Okafor doesn’t look like a freshman and he sure doesn’t play like 6-foot-10 big man. He’s very nimble and runs the floor with ease. I’m already drooling.

I’m buying stock in Rasheed Sulaimon

Stats: 12 points, 4-4 FG, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Rasheed Sulaimon came off the bench and pushed the pedal to the metal right out of the gates. He was a pest on the defensive end, hounding ball handlers and using his long, lanky arms to poke away passes, and he served well in a facilitator role on offense. He got into the paint several times in the first half and kicked the ball out to shooters like Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook on the wings.

All in all, Sulaimon made smart plays and gave the Blue Devils a huge boost on defense. He has the quickness to guard ones and twos and the wingspan to give their lives hell. It’s hard not to fall in love with that.

Keep your eye on Justise Winslow

Stats: 15 points, 6-12 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Justise Winslow and Jahlil Okafor seem to have developed some good chemistry already. They had a nice sequence in the first half when Okafor dished it out to Winslow on the three when Presbyterian doubled down on the post. On the next possession, Winslow pushed the ball on the fast break and found Okafor wide open under the basket for an easy two.

In the second half, it was Winslow who stole the show for the Blue Devils. It helps that he did this:

No matter how well Winslow played, though, it doesn’t change the fact that his name is incredibly hard to spell.

Tyus Jones and Quin Cook can shoot

The two combined for 29 points on 7-for-14 shooting from three and 13 assists. It’s going to be a headache for teams to contain them since they can both put on the floor, make plays off the dribble, find open teammates, and get their shot off in a hurry.