DUKE/FGCU PREVIEW

Fort Myers, FL- FGCU (8-1) looks to win their fourth game in a row, as they face Duke University (9-1), Sunday afternoon at 1 PM from Alico Arena.

Stats (DU):

Duke averages 72.1 ppg, shoots 45.6% (282/619) from the field, and 25.5% (38/149) from beyond the arc. The Blue Devils average 42.0 team rebounds per game. Duke dishes out 17.5 assists, 10.2 steals, and 4.7 blocks per game. The Blue Devils average 15.2 team turnovers per game.

Stats (FGCU):

FGCU averages 76.9 ppg, shoots 44.4% (248/558) from the field, and 33.0% (105/318) from beyond the arc. The Eagles average 35.3 team rebounds per game. FGCU dishes out 15.7 assists, 9.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game. The Eagles average 13.0 team turnovers per game.

3 Players To Watch For (DU):

5’11 SR G Celeste Taylor 10.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg

-Averaged 11.0 ppg as a JR for the Blue Devils

Career honors:

-2021-22 Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award Watch List (Top Shooting Guard)

-ACC Newcomer Watch List (2021-22)

-All-ACC Academic Team (2021-22)

-Three-time USA Basketball Gold Medalist

-All-Big 12 Freshman Team (2019-20)

-Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2019, Spring 2020)

-McDonald’s All-American (2019)

-Jordan Brand All-American (2019)

6’1 SR G/F Elizabeth Balogun 10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg

Averaged 8.3 ppg for Duke last season

Career honors:

-2021-22 & 2020-21 Cheryl Miller Award Watch List – Top Small Forward

-Represented Nigeria in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

-ACC Freshman of the Year (2018-19)

-All-ACC Freshman Team (2018-19)

-McDonald’s All-American (2018)

-Jordan Brand Classic participant (2018)

-Naismith Trophy H.S. All-American (2018)

6’6 JR C Kennedy Brown 9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg

-Averaged 7.9 ppg, and 6.3 rpg, as a Sophomore at Oklahoma State

3 Players To Watch For (FGCU):

5’8 R-JR G Alyza Winston 15.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg

5’3 5th G TK Morehouse 14.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg

6’0 5th G Sha Carter 8.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Overview:

The Eagles and Blue Devils face off for the first time since 2019, where FGCU knocked off Duke, 78-56. Davion Wingate led the Eagles with 30 points in that game.

Duke is 9-1 overall with wins over North Carolina A&T, Charleston Southern, Davidson, Texas A&M, Toledo, Oregon State, Northwestern, Richmond, and Austin Peay. Their only loss this season came against #3 Connecticut (78-50), in the Phil Knight Lecacy Tournament. Head Coach Kara Lawson has led the Blue Devils since 2020, she is a former WNBA, and Olympic champion. Celeste Taylor leads the Blue Devils offensively, averaging 10.9 ppg. 6’6 JR C Kennedy Brown is a dynamic force in the middle for Duke, and with the smaller lineup of FGCU, matching up with her is one of the biggest keys to Sunday afternoon’s game.

FGCU is led offensively by Alyza Winston (15.4 ppg), and TK Morehouse (14.4 ppg). This tandem has been one of the best in the country, and will definitely have to be on vs a team like Duke. Sha Carter has been on a tear lately too for the Eagles, and at 6’0, could be called upon to help FGCU vs a taller lineup in Duke University. The Blue Devils boast four players that are 6’3 or taller. The Eagles have been hitting 10+ 3 point field goals a game, so expect the Eagles to shoot early and often, vs a Blue Devils team averaging 72.1 ppg. Should be a great game Sunday afternoon from Alico Arena.