Against Kansas, Duke Shows It Has The Pieces To Compete

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Nov 5, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Wendell Moore Jr. (0) drives to the basket against Kansas Jayhawks guard Marcus Garrett (0) during the first half at Madison Square Garden.It was a fleeting, and largely inconsequential moment. But the morning after Duke’s season-opening victory over No. 3 Kansas, it’s stuck with me more than any highlight or number in the box score.

Early in the first half, Vernon Carey, the freshman center who was arguably the centerpiece to yet another Top 3 recruiting class by the Blue Devils, was pulled to the top of the key by his defender. That position is never comfortable for someone of Carey’s stature. But Carey…