Regardless of where Marvin Bagley fell in anyone’s pre-draft ranking, a few seemingly indisputable facts were spouted regarding the talented big man. He was an athletic freak. He could score the ball unlike any freshman in recent history. He hoarded rebounds like a long-lost high school acquaintance accrues pyramid schemes. He possessed a devilish second jump.
He couldn’t play defense.
Every scouting report highlighted Bagley’s lack of rim protection and inability to make an impact as a defensive stopper. Coach K switched Duke into a 2-3 zone defense, either due to a lack of faith in his star freshman as a defender, the lack of perimeter defense from his guards, or a combination of the two.