Duke Basketball: Is Blue Devils' Offense the Best in the Country?

The saying goes that defense wins championships, but the Duke basketball team will try to win one behind a dominant offense this season.

The Blue Devils defense is certainly talented, but it is their offense that could be the best in the nation.

From a pure statistical standpoint, the early indications are that Mike Krzyzewski has a lethal scoring machine to work with this year. Duke is first in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted offensive efficiency rankings, third in scoring at 89.1 points per game, sixth in assists per game at 19 and third in field-goal percentage at 53.9 percent.

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Duke’s standing as the top offense in the country is about more than just raw statistics, though.

From a personnel standpoint, the Blue Devils have everything they could ask for if constructing a college basketball roster. It all starts with the center, Jahlil Okafor, who will likely be the top pick in the next draft.

Okafor is arguably the best low-post scorer in the country who has already turned heads among NBA scouts and fans alike with his footwork, moves and soft touch on his shot. His mobility and strength as a big man allow him to carve out space and dominate down low.

What’s more, he is a capable passer when double teams come his way, which helps the entire offense function with open shots.

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Okafor is far from the only threat on the roster. Tyus Jones was the best player on the floor in the marquee victory over Wisconsin and the win over Army and posted a combined 38 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in those last two games. He is also a pass-first distributor who consistently puts players like Okafor in the best position to score. 

He impressed ESPN’s Jeff Goodman the past two games as well:

Outside of the point guard and center combination, Duke has the athletes on the wing and backcourt with Justise Winslow, Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon who can attack the rim or shoot from behind the three-point line. Their presence helps balance the offense so it is more than just one of the nation’s best point guards and centers and gives the Blue Devils threats all over the floor.

Winslow’s most valuable asset is his shut-down defense, but he is capable of filling up the stat sheet with an explosive first step and formidable jumper. Sulaimon and Cook are the veterans who are versatile enough to play either guard spot and set up the offense or score off ball.

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Thus far, Duke has topped 100 points twice this season and scored 80 against Wisconsin and 81 against Michigan State. The performances against the physical Big Ten defenses are more impressive than the 113 points against Presbyterian, especially because the Blue Devils torched the Spartans and Badgers every time they needed a stop.

You also have to look at the competition on the schedule when projecting Duke’s offense the rest of the way.

It has a date with the defending champion Connecticut Huskies and the loaded ACC slate on the horizon with contests against Syracuse, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Miami, among others. However, the two opponents that could really alter some of the incredible offensive statistics are Virginia and Louisville.

The Cavaliers' slow style of play means opposing offenses have to grind for every point, while the Cardinals may be the best defensive team in the entire country. In fact, Louisville will disrupt every offense it plays all season as the No. 2 defense in Pomeroy’s rankings. It already held Ohio State to a measly 55 points on 30.4 percent shooting from the field and forced 14 turnovers.

The Buckeyes don’t have the personnel that Duke does, but they are a Top 20-quality team that was overwhelmed by Louisville’s defense for much of the game.

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Even if Duke struggles in a few games against elite defenses like Louisville and loses its distinction as the top-ranked squad in Pomeroy’s ratings, it doesn’t necessarily mean it loses the billing as a dominant offense. There is more involved than just stats when determining the best offense, such as personnel and the ability to knock off elite competition.

The Blue Devils will certainly have plenty of opportunities to do just that in the ACC, even if the conference lost a bit of luster in the national-perception department when it lost the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

If talking about Duke’s potential position as the nation’s best offense, we have to discuss its competition for that offensive title.

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The Wisconsin team the Blue Devils just beat is certainly loaded with six offensive contributors who have been to the Final Four, and contenders out West that often fly under the radar because they play late at night like Arizona, Gonzaga and Wichita State certainly come to mind.

However, the top challenger for any college basketball distinction this season is Kentucky. The Wildcats have two teams of five superstars each who are always fresh because of the rotation John Calipari uses. They were third in Pomeroy’s rankings as of Sunday but were somewhat stagnant against Texas and Providence.

It has been a small sample size, but the Wildcats are loaded across the board and will destroy almost every team they face.

Still, Kentucky’s greatest strength is its defense because of the length and athleticism all over the floor. Duke’s success is based more on its offense, especially this season with a roster littered with future NBA players.

Between Okafor, Jones, Winslow and the supporting cast, that offensive talent has already come through against Temple, Stanford, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Expect more of the same the rest of the season.

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