Blue Devils Have Been Successful Without Ngongba
Scheyer has used a nine-man rotation for most of the season as they have been relatively healthy. With Ngongba and Foster, who likely won’t play again this year, Scheyer has gone to a seven-man unit with Maliq Brown and Cayden Boozer moving into the starting lineup.
Brown plays hard and is the Blue Devils’ “glue-guy” as he thrives on defense. Brown gives Duke someone who can guard all five positions, allowing the Blue Devils to switch ball screens and hide weaker defenders easily. While not a true rim protector, the 6-8 forward creates chaos, which generally results in steals.
Offensively, Brown is not a huge threat, though he is efficient. Brown is also an elite offensive rebounder. Over the last five games, he is averaging 6.2 points on 67.7% shooting from the field (14 of 18) along with 7.6 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks.
Duke has been one of the best teams in the nation this year. The Blue Devils have outscored their opponents by nearly 19 points this season, with their two losses coming by four points. They rank in the top-10 in the nation in both offensive (eighth) and defensive efficiency (third).
Over the last five games, Duke has had a couple of close calls. Duke picked up a one-point win in their first game of the ACC Tournament over Florida State and a six-point victory over Siena. Over the last five games, Duke has outscored its opponents 75-67, as Cam Boozer (22 points and 12 boards over the last five), Cayden Boozer (13 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists), and Evans (18 points and six rebounds) have stepped up their production.
Duke Should Advance To The Sweet 16
While the return of Ngongba would help ease Scheyer’s likely anxiety, Duke should defeat TCU. The Blue Devils are highly efficient on both ends of the court and have one of the best starting units in the nation. TCU is battle-tested — posting a 7-7 record in quality games — and a physical team that loves to get out in transition.
I have Duke as a 10-point favorite. So, expect TCU to cover the 11.5 points.
Ultimately, I have Duke winning 77-72. So, the best bet is over 140.5 points.
