Burning question: Can Duke handle UNCW?s pressure? UNCW will have an easier time springing an upset if it can turn its defense into easy offense. Expect the Seahawks to press Duke whenever they can. If the Blue Devils can break it, they can get layups and dunks for Marshall Plumlee. They don?t usually turn it over much (only 9.8 per game). It?s especially important for them not to start now.
Players to watch:
Duke:
Sophomore guard Grayson Allen: The polarizing All-ACC guard averages 21.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists but has also attracted attention for a pair of tripping incidents.
Freshman forward Brandon Ingram: The Kinston native?s NBA Draft stock continues to soar, a nightmare matchup at 6-foot-9 with an inside-outside skill set.
Senior center Marshall Plumlee: The last of the Plumlee brothers has made huge strides in his final season to average 8.2 points and 8.6 rebounds.
UNCW:
Junior guard Denzel Ingram: Third-team All-CAA guard has saved his best for UNCW?s most important games, including 17 points and six assists in the CAA Tournament final victory over Hofstra.
Junior guard Chris Flemmings: Averaged 17.6 points on 18-for-33 combined shooting in three CAA Tournament wins en route to Most Outstanding Player honors.
Sophomore forward Marcus Bryan: Undersized at 6-foot-7 but has found a way to make a difference on both ends lately, including six total blocks at the CAA Tournament.
Numbers to know:
933: Free throws attempted by UNCW?s opponents this season, nearly 30 per game.
81.5: Points per game for Duke, behind only UNC in the ACC.
25-99: All-time record for No. 13 seeds vs. No. 4.
Et cetera: UNCW helps welcome in March Madness as the NCAA Tournament opener. ? The winner plays either No. 5 Baylor or No. 12 Yale on Saturday. ? UNCW is 1-4 in the NCAA Tournament all-time. Its only win came as a No. 13 seed over Southern California in 2002. ? No CAA team has advanced past the first round since VCU in 2012. ? Duke won the national title last season with a victory over Wisconsin in the championship. The Blue Devils also have recent first-round exits in 2014 and 2012. They finished tied for fifth in the ACC in the regular season and fell in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. ? UNCW hasn?t played anybody in the NCAA field. Duke is 6-8 against others in the bracket.
More to say: Kevin Keatts isn?t worried about his players heading on to a new stage: ?We?ve been able to stay in the moment. The thing I love about this group and one of the reasons why we?ve been successful this year is we never get too high and we never get too low. I think our guys, though we?re excited and respect our opponents, will be ready to play.?
Last word: All things considered, UNCW couldn?t have asked for a much better NCAA draw. The Seahawks didn?t have to travel too far and now get their chance to play Cinderella against a neighboring national power that stumbled down the stretch. Duke has elite talent in Allen and Ingram, but its lack of depth and some recent history of flaming out in March should give UNCW real belief it can pull the upset.
-- Eric Detweiler
Players to watch:
Duke:
Sophomore guard Grayson Allen: The polarizing All-ACC guard averages 21.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists but has also attracted attention for a pair of tripping incidents.
Freshman forward Brandon Ingram: The Kinston native?s NBA Draft stock continues to soar, a nightmare matchup at 6-foot-9 with an inside-outside skill set.
Senior center Marshall Plumlee: The last of the Plumlee brothers has made huge strides in his final season to average 8.2 points and 8.6 rebounds.
UNCW:
Junior guard Denzel Ingram: Third-team All-CAA guard has saved his best for UNCW?s most important games, including 17 points and six assists in the CAA Tournament final victory over Hofstra.
Junior guard Chris Flemmings: Averaged 17.6 points on 18-for-33 combined shooting in three CAA Tournament wins en route to Most Outstanding Player honors.
Sophomore forward Marcus Bryan: Undersized at 6-foot-7 but has found a way to make a difference on both ends lately, including six total blocks at the CAA Tournament.
Numbers to know:
933: Free throws attempted by UNCW?s opponents this season, nearly 30 per game.
81.5: Points per game for Duke, behind only UNC in the ACC.
25-99: All-time record for No. 13 seeds vs. No. 4.
Et cetera: UNCW helps welcome in March Madness as the NCAA Tournament opener. ? The winner plays either No. 5 Baylor or No. 12 Yale on Saturday. ? UNCW is 1-4 in the NCAA Tournament all-time. Its only win came as a No. 13 seed over Southern California in 2002. ? No CAA team has advanced past the first round since VCU in 2012. ? Duke won the national title last season with a victory over Wisconsin in the championship. The Blue Devils also have recent first-round exits in 2014 and 2012. They finished tied for fifth in the ACC in the regular season and fell in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. ? UNCW hasn?t played anybody in the NCAA field. Duke is 6-8 against others in the bracket.
More to say: Kevin Keatts isn?t worried about his players heading on to a new stage: ?We?ve been able to stay in the moment. The thing I love about this group and one of the reasons why we?ve been successful this year is we never get too high and we never get too low. I think our guys, though we?re excited and respect our opponents, will be ready to play.?
Last word: All things considered, UNCW couldn?t have asked for a much better NCAA draw. The Seahawks didn?t have to travel too far and now get their chance to play Cinderella against a neighboring national power that stumbled down the stretch. Duke has elite talent in Allen and Ingram, but its lack of depth and some recent history of flaming out in March should give UNCW real belief it can pull the upset.
-- Eric Detweiler
