Mark Mitchell Dynamite Makes Dynamic Duke Basketball Offense Lethal

Duke basketball may require a significant scoring performance from its big-time X factor to take down Houston.

Duke basketball forward Mark Mitchell / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Duke basketball sophomore forward Mark Mitchell is a nice guy. Judging by the Duke Blue Planet videos from this summer and Blue Devil Country on SI's observations all season, the former five-star recruit from Kansas City seems like a great locker room guy. But ACC opponents usually see a different side, as the winning smile and relaxed attitude give way to a relentless defender and aggressive stretch-four weapon.

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However, as the No. 4 seed Blue Devils gear up for their Sweet 16 showdown against No. 1 seed Houston in Dallas at 9:39 p.m. ET Friday, one could argue that consistency as a scorer is Mitchell's only noticeable weakness. For a player who averages 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 54.1 percent from the field, he seems a little reluctant to take over games sometimes.

SWEET 16‼️🕺😈

🆚 Houston
⏰ 9:39 PM ET
🏟️ American Airlines Center
📺 CBS
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— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 29, 2024

Mitchell's 62.6 free throw percentage may have something to do with that. Plus, his unorthodox jumper has drawn criticism from some.

But when that shot is on, it’s something a defense can't ignore.

Earlier this campaign, he seemed to hover around the arc when teams would double 7-footer Kyle Filipowski. That’s no longer the case, though, as the 6-foot-9 Mitchell is now more often using the space to slash and help out on rebounds. Considering that Duke is 18-3 this season and 33-4 over the past two seasons when he scores 10 or more points, his shift in mentality on offense is crucial.

"Anytime you have five guys on the court that are a threat to score at all times, it's a lot different than
what other teams have seen," Mitchell said in the locker room following the team's practice in the American Airlines Center on Thursday afternoon. "Our shooting and our cutting, I don't think anyone has an offense as dynamic as us in the country."

Houston’s guards may be the best unit in the nation. And while the Duke basketball backcourt has a tall task ahead, the Blue Devils' frontcourt has a chance to go out and dominate.

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With a clear height advantage on the inside, both of second-year head coach Jon Scheyer's starting bigs could be the difference-makers. And with "Flip" likely drawing doubles most of the night, it’ll be up to Mark Mitchell to set the tone and be the X factor he's been his entire Duke career.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI for more Duke basketball news.