Fansided

Duke is downed by Boston College: 3 takeaways from the upset

By Joseph Nardone

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils is seen before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils is seen before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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So much for the Duke Blue Devils going undefeated. Oh, and America … meet Boston College Eagles superstar Ky Bowman.

If you had the Duke Blue Devils losing to the Boston College Eagles on Saturday, you are a marvel that should be studied for scientific reasons. Also, you were correct.

On the back of BC’s terrific backcourt, as well as an insane first half from beyond the arc, the Eagles were able to upset the Blue Devils.

That’s the semantics of it all. One game into ACC play for both teams and we have Boston College at the top of the league, with Duke at the bottom. No one expects those standings to remain as such as the season progresses, but don’t you dare strip the fun out of the historically joyless BC fan base.

With enough of a sample size available prior to the game, coupled with this specific event itself, a few huge things have emerged as stories we need to follow as the season gets a bit longer in the tooth.

Duke’s Shot Distribution Was Not OK

Grayson Allen, who played objectively awful, took 20 shots. On the flip side, freshman sensation Marvin Bagley took 11. That isn’t ideal.

End segment.

Fine … I kid.

This is on both the guard play as well as lauded Hall of Fame coach, Mike Krzyzewski.

Boston College is known for its backcourt. What it has never been confused with having are stellar defensive big men who are capable of preventing other large humanoids from getting buckets in bunches.

In fact, teams usually enjoy attacked Boston College’s bigs. Alas, Duke isn’t like other teams.

It is inexcusable that Bagley only got 11 looks at the bucket. When you couple that with Wendell Carter Jr. only taking eight himself — compared to the combined 45 shots Allen, Trevon Duval, and Gary Trent took — a serious look at the strategy should be had.

It is only a single game. Sometimes the flow of an outing might dictate a team play outside its strengths. Then again, Boston College didn’t really do anything to force Coach K, or his wings, from jacking up so many balls while avoiding touches for Bagley.

Let’s turn this baby on its belly, though, and take a gander a clear number that probably won’t become a trend:

30 attempts from deep for the Blue Devils. Duke only managed to make eight of those (27 percent). That is inefficient, but also a lower percentile of made 3s than Duke will average the rest of the way. Not a huge concern. In a weird way, despite the loss, it is impressive the Blue Devils were as in that game as they were, especially given how abominable they were from beyond the arc.

Nevertheless, if you’re an angry Dook (yes, Dook) fan right now, look at your guards and openly wonder why in the hell they didn’t get the rock to Bagley more.