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Appalachian State v Duke

Source: Grant Halverson / Getty

 

The college basketball season has started to heat up, as conference play is in full swing. Believe it or not, we are just under 9 weeks away from receiving the 68 team bracket, for the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Duke entered the season with high expectations, as they brought in another loaded recruiting class, for Coach K’s final season as their head coach. The Blue Devils have earned some marquee wins early on in the season, topping both Kentucky and Gonzaga on neutral floors. Their only blemish before Saturday’s loss home to Miami was at Ohio State, a team with legitimate Big 10 title aspirations. One of those highly touted incoming freshmen was Paolo Banchero, who will be a lottery pick later this summer in the NBA Draft. While Banchero has lived up to the hype, as he’s averaging over 17 points per game, you could make the argument he hasn’t been the best player for Duke this season. That title belongs to junior Wendell Moore Jr, who is averaging over 16 points, nearly 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. After an up and down start to his college career, the game has slowed down for Moore, and he is reaping the benefits, and earning praise for his play. Former ACC standout Randolph Childress, joined the Mac Attack this morning, and had this to say about Moore’s play”

 

“I feel like Wendell Moore has taken as big a jump as anybody, and right now he’d by my frontrunner for ACC Player of the Year”

 

There are still roughly 2 months left to go in the regular season, and a lot will happen between now and then, but with Moore playing at the level he is right now, it’s hard to imagine any team beating Duke on a consistent basis.