Blue Devil Bits

Duke has won five straight games and 10 of its last 11 contests. The Blue Devils are 30-6 on the season, the program’s 10th campaign with 30 or more wins. All 10 of the 30-win seasons have been under Mike Krzyzewski. 

The Blue Devils posted wins over Binghamton (86-62) and Texas (74-69) in the Greensboro pod to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the 24th time in school history.

Duke is ranked sixth in the AP poll and fifth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. The Blue Devils have now been ranked in the top 10 in 36 consecutive AP polls.

The Blue Devils are the No. 2 seed in the East Regional. Duke has claimed the No. 2 seed eight times in school history and boasts a 23-6 (.793) record from that position. The Blue Devils claimed the 1991 National Championship as a No. 2 seed.

Junior Gerald Henderson averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in Duke’s wins over Binghamton and Texas. Henderson scored a game-high 24 points in the win over Texas for his 11th 20-point game of the season.

Duke was 16-of-34 (.471) from three-point range in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Jon Scheyer was 6-of-12 (.500) from behind the three-point arc, while Kyle Singler was 5-of-8 (.625) from three-point distance in the two wins.

Sophomore Nolan Smith averaged 12.0 ppg. in wins over Binghamton and Texas. He was 7-of-12 (.583) from the field and 8-of-9 (.889) from the foul line in the contests.
 
 
Numbers Game

Duke has 88 NCAA Tournament wins to rank fourth all-time. The Blue Devils are fifth all-time with 117 tournament games played.

Mike Krzyzewski is the winningest coach in NCAA Tournament history with 71 tournament wins. Coach K will pass Dean Smith for the most tournament games coached on Thursday. The meeting with Villanova will be Krzyzewski’s 93rd NCAA Tournament game on the Duke bench.

The Blue Devils are 55-14 (.797) all-time, with a string of eight straight wins, when playing out of the East Regional.

Duke has failed to advance past the Sweet Sixteen just once under Mike Krzyzewski in nine NCAA Tournament East Regional appearances. The Blue Devils have reached seven Final Fours under Coach K from the East Regional.

The Blue Devils are 104-43 all-time against teams currently in the Big East conference. Duke is 2-0 versus the Big East this season.

Duke is 9-6 in NCAA Tournament play against Big East conference teams, including a 2-1 mark versus Villanova.

Kyle Singler, Gerald Henderson and Jon Scheyer have each scored over 500 points this season, marking the seventh time in school history (1978, 1986, 1990, 1999, 2002, 2005 & 2009) that feat has been accomplished.

Since becoming Duke’s starting point guard on Feb. 19, Jon Scheyer has scored in double figures in 11 straight games. He is averaging 19.1 points per game and 3.3 three-point field goals made per game in that span. He also has 27 assists, 19 steals and just 13 turnovers during that stretch.

Junior Gerald Henderson has reached double figures in scoring in 27 of the last 28 games for the Blue Devils. The Merion, Pa., native has 10 games with 20 or more points during that span.

Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer are a combined 64-of-136 (.471) from three-point range over the last 11 games. Duke is averaging 8.5 threes per game in that stretch.

Sophomore Nolan Smith has reached double figures in scoring in three of Duke’s five games since returning from a concussion suffered on Feb. 25. Smith came off the bench to average 12.0 points per game in wins over Binghamton and Texas.

Gerald Henderson, Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler combine to average 48.2 points per game for the Blue Devils. The trio accounts for 61.7 percent of Duke’s scoring output.

Duke is averaging 9.3 turnovers per game over the last 10 contests. The Blue Devils have recorded less than 10 turnovers in six of the last 10 contests and lead the ACC in turnover margin at +4.2 topg.
 
Duke In The NCAA Tournament  -
Duke, making its 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance, has been one of the best NCAA Tournament teams in the history of college basketball. The Blue Devils’ .752 winning percentage (88-29) in NCAA Tournament play is the best all-time. Duke ranks fourth in NCAA Tournament history with 88 wins and fifth in games played with 117. The Blue Devils remain one of three programs to make five or more consecutive Final Four appearances (the Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four every year from 1988-92).
 
Duke As A No. 2 Seed -
Duke earned a No. 2 seed in the East Regional, marking the eighth time it has claimed a second seed in the NCAA Tournament. Duke was also seeded second in 1979, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2008. The Blue Devils have advanced to four Final Fours as a No. 2 seed, winning the National Championship in 1991.

Blue Devils Vs. The Tourney Field -
Duke has played 19 games against teams in the 2009 NCAA Tournament field. Duke has an 13-6 (.684) record vs. teams that have reached the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
 
Duke In The NCAA Tournament Since 2000 -
 Duke has played in the second-most NCAA Tournament games (31) since 2000. The Blue Devils’ 23 wins are the second-most in that span as well.
 
Krzyzewski Looks To Build On NCAA Victories Record -
Mike Krzyzewski has 71 NCAA Tournament victories to his credit. On the strength of a 63-55 win over Mississippi State on March 20, 2005, Coach K passed North Carolina’s Dean Smith for the most NCAA Tournament wins by a coach in college basketball history. Here is a look at the all-time NCAA Tournament victory leaders among coaches:
 
Coach K In The NCAA Tournament -
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has enjoyed tremendous success in the NCAA Tournament throughout his career. His .772 winning percentage (71-21) is the highest among all active coaches with a minimum of 40 NCAA Tournament games. His 71 NCAA Tournament victories rank first all-time, while his 92 tournament games is tied for first. Coach K is one of only four coaches in history to win three or more NCAA Tournament titles. Here is a look at Krzyzewski’s standing among all coaches in the NCAA Tournament: