Duke-Kansas Could Hinge On Who Best Exploits The Mismatches

How Duke utilizes freshman Kyle Filipowski could be the X-factor in Tuesday’s showdown against Kansas.Entering the season, everyone knew this Duke team would look different.

The absence of Coach K on the sideline is the difference that has dominated the media coverage, and rightly so. But another unusual element of this team may be more pivotal tonight: Duke’s size up front.

Freshmen Dereck Lively and Kyle Filipowski, both listed as 7-footers, were expected to play alongside each other to start the year. With Lively’s debut delayed by injury, Filipowski instead has started the Blue Devils’ first two games alongside 6-foot-10 center Ryan Young. And with Dariq Whitehead also out with injury,…