Duke Basketball Still Has Questions Ahead of March Madness

Things are going quite well for Duke basketball at the moment, but that is all a facade as the Blue Devils still have some issues to address before the best tournament in sports. 

It's easy for Duke fans to think of the loftiest of heights right now. Every season is filled with highs and lows, but this surge is ridiculous when you consider the emotions involved. 

Duke entered their game against North Carolina after losing two of their last five. Their defense was called into question and the thought that they could squeak past North Carolina at Chapel Hill was laughable. 

As we now know, fate showed up just in time to make Austin Rivers a Duke hero for a last-second three-pointer that gave the Blue Devils the win. 

That was the kind of victory that makes a season and gives the winner a boost of positive emotion that keeps them floating well through March. 

They followed up that amazing high by beating a beatable team—something that has proved quite problematic for Duke this season. 

There was no mental letdown as Duke destroyed Maryland 73-55 behind Mason Plumlee's 13 points and 22 rebounds, but far bigger tests are on the horizon. 

No. 21 Florida State and a grudge match with No. 7 North Carolina still looms. The constant jockeying for NCAA tourney seeding continues and the Blue Devils have their work cut out for them. 

But the biggest issue facing this talented team is not finding a big-time playmaker or top-shelf programs hungry to beat them. 

They have plenty of clutch players that can step up when the moment calls for it and Duke has shown the ability to play up to the level of the truly great teams. 

The issues that should scare Duke fans are those on the defensive end.

This has not been the season for Duke to shine defensively. The upcoming tournament feeds on teams that are unable to post a concerted effort each and every game on that part of the floor. 

Things may be going extremely well for Duke, but there are major flaws right underneath that must be addressed before title talk can truly begin. 

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