I’d like to tell you that I’ve been 100 percent up on everything Elon University men’s basketball in the last couple weeks. I kept up with a little bit of the loss to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, but other than that I’ve been a bit out of the loop.

So in preparation for Thursday night’s matchup with No. 1 Duke University, I thought I’d bring you a few notes, a few bits and pieces of info and analysis from myself leading into the game.

The Record Speaks for Itself

I don’t really think Elon is a bad 6-4 team. There are just a couple bugaboos the Phoenix needs to work out before the Southern Conference schedule picks back up, the time where the games really matter.

First, shooting in general. Elon has shot 115-of-320 (35.9 percent) from the field in its last five games after hitting 135-of-304 (44.4 percent) in its first five games. Second, three-point shooting. First five: 36-for-118 (30.5 percent). Last five: 36-for-132 (27.3 percent).

Record in first five games: 4-1. Last five games: 2-3.

The issue here is not necessarily a bad thing: Elon loves to take shots. As you saw with those numbers, that’s a lot of shots. The Phoenix has taken 70 shots or more three times this season. Give them credit for heaving it up even in bad streaks (junior guard Jack Isenbarger notably, who keeps firing even when he’s cold). Isenbarger is shooting 35.4 percent from the field on the season but is still eighth in the conference in points per game (14.7).

You’ve just got to make them.

On the other hand, you don’t get 6-4 in college basketball for nothing. While shooting has been a bit of a problem for the Phoenix, playing defense hasn’t. Elon is first in the SoCon in field goal percent defense (39.1 percent) and has forced the most turnovers in the conference (166) while committing the least (110).

Taking Charge on the Floor

I thought last year was junior forward Ryley Beaumont’s breakout season, but this year may be even better. He’s been more of a leader on the court, often rallying the team around himself in timeouts. Beaumont has led the team in rebounds in four games and is an emotional leader this year, something which head coach Matt Matheny is very happy about.

“He’s taking his leadership role seriously,” Matheny said following the Phoenix’s Dec. 4 win over Dartmouth College. “He’s got a great energy. He’s an experienced, tough, energy guy for us and he’s taking his leadership role very seriously. I’m thrilled with him.”

Along with Beaumont becoming a leader, the bench boss is happy with the leadership from the team overall.

“Boy, that was a big thing we needed coming into this year, and I’m encouraged by the way our guys are leading and that’s carrying through in practice,” he said. “Not every practice we’ve had has been great, but through our ups and downs, downs being the losses, we’ve gotten a focus about us and a desire to improve, and I like that.”

Rebounding Improvement

Getting rebounds was something Elon struggled with in a big way last season. Overall, the Phoenix averaged getting out-rebounded by 2.5 boards per game last season, a healthy margin overall. It was a big point of emphasis coming into the year, as players worked to get bigger and stronger in the offseason to combat with the big bodies in the SoCon.

This year, Elon is letting opponents grab an average of 40.1 rebounds per game this season, last in the SoCon. The margin is actually a little bigger, minus 3.0 at this point of the year. But back to that five games/five games split. First five games: opponents averaged seven more rebounds per game than Elon. Last five games: the Phoenix is averaging one rebound more per game.

Not that much of a difference, I know. But it may be a sign of an upswing and that work may be paying off finally.

Freshmen Surprise

I’ve loved what freshman guard Tanner Samson has brought to the table so far for the Phoenix. He’s averaging six points per game (sixth on the team), while bringing in 3.6 boards (fourth) and 2.4 assists (third) in his first collegiate season.

At the beginning of the season, Matheny said he was not sure how much he would be using Samson and fellow first year, center Tony Sabato. But Samson has averaged 26.8 minutes per game (fifth on the team), more than sophomore guard Austin Hamilton, and registered a start in place of Hamilton in the team’s first game, Nov. 10 against Butler University.

Sabato hasn’t been all that bad either. Yeah, he’s been outworked for rebounds at times and sometimes takes bad fouls. But he’s managed to put up crunch time points and grabbed eight rebounds against UMass in 23 minutes.

What to Expect Against Duke

The last time Elon beat a current member of the Atlantic Coast Conference was a 74-69 victory over Clemson University Dec. 30, 2005. The Phoenix stands 34-127 against current members, 7-17 against Duke.

The game will be broadcast on ESPNU, which is definitely exciting. But let’s be honest here: it will be very, very, very difficult for Elon to walk out of Cameron Indoor Stadium with a victory Thursday night. The Blue Devils, just crowned the No. 1 team in the nation, will be hyped up about proving their No. 1-dominance over a paltry SoCon school.

Don’t think that Matheny will take this game as a “let’s just lay down and get it over with” game. That’s not what he does. But this is the third time in three years the Phoenix will face a top five school. Each of the prior two times, Elon got a bit embarrassed. Against Coach K’s squad on the same date two years prior, Duke won 98-72. And University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill fans got free Bojangles’ as the Tar Heels were 100-62 victors.

So honestly, I can’t tell you what to expect against Duke. I don’t know exactly what we’re going to see out of Elon. But if the Phoenix struggles in shooting from the field, there’s no chance it’s a close game. Duke’s size advantage will be noticeable, as will the speed. But if Isenbarger and junior guard Sebastian Koch knock down a couple 3-pointers early and junior forward Lucas Troutman can create a bit of a presence down low, the Phoenix just may be able to hang with the Blue Devils.

No matter what happens, the Phoenix gets something it craves: an NCAA Tournament-like atmosphere. It's important for a small school like Elon to experience those games. I know many students won't be there, but playing in Cameron Indoor will be a huge experience for this team as they progress towards their goal: playing their best in March.