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Coming off of an embarrassing loss at N.C. State, No. 6 Duke dominated Virginia Tech all through the primary half of their Saturday evening matchup in Cameron Indoor Stadium, heading into the locker room with a 51-25 benefit. Listed here are 5 observations from the primary 20 minutes.
Small ball
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski went with a beginning lineup of Tre Jones, Jordan Goldwire, Cassius Stanley, Wendell Moore Jr. and Vernon Carey Jr. Saturday evening. With Moore on the 4, Duke tried to make the most of a small-ball defensive scheme that was instrumental in Duke’s second-half comeback at Virginia Tech Dec. 6.
The tactic labored, because the Blue Devils restricted the Hokies to only 30 % taking pictures from the ground, forcing 5 Virginia Tech turnovers as nicely.
Robust offensive begin
In opposition to N.C. State, Duke fell behind 10-1 throughout the recreation’s first three minutes, a deficit that proved too deep to beat. The Blue Devils utterly flipped the script Saturday evening, taking pictures out to an 11-2 benefit inside that very same three-minute timeframe. Co-captains Jones and Javin DeLaurier stated after Wednesday’s loss that they wanted to behave hungrier heading into contests, and it looks as if they have been in a position to unfold that notion to the remainder of the group as nicely.
Three-point get together
Duke’s Three-point taking pictures has been on and off this season. In opposition to Notre Dame, the Blue Devils sunk over 45 % of their makes an attempt from deep, whereas the group hit simply 24 % of its treys Wednesday in Raleigh. Saturday evening, it was extra like the previous.
Jones began off the competition with two consecutive threes on Duke’s first two offensive possessions, whereas Stanley continued the get together with 4 exterior makes of his personal. Even Carey bought in on the motion, sinking his seventh shot from deep on the season. General, the Blue Devils began 5-of-6 from past the arc, ultimately ending the primary half with eight threes on 15 makes an attempt.
Nolley struggles
Coming into the sport, Duke knew containing Virginia Tech guard Landers Nolley II could be key. The freshman leads the Hokies with 17.Three factors per recreation, however appeared misplaced through the first half Saturday, scoring no factors on 5 makes an attempt from the ground.
An enormous a part of the Blue Devils’ December win towards the Hokies was limiting Nolley to only seven factors on Three-of-7 taking pictures, and it seems he was a significant a part of Krzyzewski’s defensive recreation plan this time round as nicely.
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Participant of the half: Cassius Stanley
When Stanley is hitting pictures from past the arc, it’s going to be a troublesome evening for the opponent. The Los Angeles native was on fireplace over the primary 20 minutes Saturday, ending the primary half with 16 factors on 6-of-9 taking pictures from the sphere and Four-of-5 from deep.
After a disappointing four-point effort Wednesday, Stanley bounced again in an enormous manner again within the pleasant confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium. If the freshman star continues to play like this down the stretch, Duke shall be a really harmful group in March.
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