CBB: Barrett & Zion Make Duke Debut
R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson made their debut for the Duke Blue Devils recently, as they faced off against Ryerson University in Canada. According to the ESPN 100, Barrett is the No. 1 freshman in the nation and Williamson isn't far behind at No. 2. They both decided to attend Duke, along with No. 3 recruit: Cam Reddish, who didn't play in this game. We've all been waiting to see Barrett and Williamson take the floor for the first time in a game-like setting, and they didn't let us down in the slightest. Duke came away with an 86-67 victory, and they're only going to get better from this point on. Barrett wasn't as efficient as he can be (and probably will be soon), as he shot just 40 percent from the field.
But he still looked impressive, totaling 34 points, five rebounds, and two blocks. Williamson also added 29 points. Barrett really exploded onto the scene in the 2017 FIBA U-19 World Cup, where he won MVP honors and went for 21.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, representing his home country of Canada. Barrett and Williamson have made Duke one of the favorites to win the national championship heading into the 2018-19 season, along with the likes of the Kansas Jayhawks and Kentucky Wildcats, according to CBS Sports. The Blue Devils went 29-8 last season and finished second in the ACC, with a 13-5 conference record. It was enough to vault Duke into the Elite Eight, but they couldn't get past Kansas in an overtime thriller.
A lot has changed in Durham since that loss. All five of the Blue Devils' starters are gone, as four of them left early for the NBA Draft and another graduated. Grayson Allen, who has been a leader for Duke for the last four seasons, is no longer on campus. Neither is No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III, or Wendell Carter Jr., Gary Trent, and Trevon Duval. There is a lot of talent to fill, but Barrett and Williamson have shown that they (along with Reddish and others) could become the best team in the country. We'll get to see Duke again soon as they face off against the University of Toronto on Friday, and then will go up against McGill University on August 19th. The Blue Devils' regular season will begin against Kentucky on November 6th.
Photo Credit: ABC Sports.
