Duke vs. North Carolina

February 20, 2014 • 9:00 p.m.

Chapel Hill, N.C. • Dean E. Smith Center

ESPN • ACC Network • Blue Devil IMG Sports Network

The Opening Tip

• Duke is in the midst of a stretch that includes four games in eight days. Three of those games are on the road, including Thursday’s matchup against North Carolina at the Dean E. Smith Center at 9 p.m. The game will air on ESPN and the ACC Network, as well as the Blue Devil IMG Sports Network.

• Duke is ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll and No. 6 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The Blue Devils are 75-24 all-time when ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll.

• The Blue Devils are 20-2 against unranked opponents this season with their losses coming on the road against ACC foes Notre Dame (77-79) and Clemson (59-72).

• Duke has won four of its past five road games. The only loss during that stretch came at No. 2 Syracuse, 91-89, in overtime. Duke has played on the road in five of its past seven games.

• Duke is 3-1 this season when having one or fewer days between games.

The Last Time Out

• Jabari Parker logged his ACC-leading ninth double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead Duke past Georgia Tech, 68-51, Tuesday at McCamish Pavilion. Parker hit 6-of-12 field goals while adding three blocks and a steal in the rout.

• Duke shot .556 (10-of-18) from three-point range for the team’s highest three-point percentage since shooting .619 (13-of-21) in the season opener against Davidson. Rodney Hood hit 4-of-6 three-pointers against the Yellow Jackets, while Tyler Thornton went 2-of-2 and Andre Dawkins connected on 2-of-3.

• Thornton dished out five assists and did not commit a single turnover as Duke gave the ball away just five times. The five turnovers were Duke’s second fewest in a game this season and fewest since giving it away just four times in the season opener against Davidson.

• Duke held Georgia Tech to just 3-of-9 shooting from three-point range.

By The Numbers

• Duke has won nine of its past 10 games with the lone loss during that stretch coming at the hands of now-No. 1 Syracuse, 91-89, in overtime. Duke has beaten seven of those 10 opponents by 15 points or more.

• Over its past 10 games, Duke is shooting .427 (103-of-241) from three-point range while averaging 10.3 made three-pointers per game. Tyler Thornton (.522, 12-of-33), Rasheed Sulaimon (.514, 18-of-35) and Andre Dawkins (.510, 26-of-51) are all shooting better than 50.0 percent from three-point range during that span.

• Duke ranks fifth in the nation and leads the ACC with a 1.61:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Blue Devils have amassed 244 assists to just 79 turnovers and have committed less than 10 turnovers 14 times this season. Tyler Thornton leads Duke with a 4.00:1 assist-to-turnover ratio and owns a 21:1 mark over his past five games.

• Rasheed Sulaimon has scored in double figures in nine of 13 ACC games and averages 11.1 points and 3.3 assists per game in conference play. He leads Duke with 29 assists over his past seven games and owns a 2.63:1 assist-to-turnover ratio during that span.

• Jabari Parker is currently averaging team highs of 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He is attempting to become the first Duke freshman to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding. Only two freshmen have led Duke in scoring, and only six have led the team in rebounding. Parker leads the ACC in rebounding and ranks second in scoring.

• Parker was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the league-leading eighth time Monday. He is just two ACC Freshman of the Week awards shy of tying the league record of 10, held by Georgia Tech’s Kenny Anderson (1989-90) and North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough (2005-06).

• Rodney Hood is the only player in the ACC to rank among the league’s top 10 in scoring (8th, 16.2 ppg.), field goal percentage (5th, .478 – 140-of-293), free throw percentage (5th, .837 – 87-of-104), three-point percentage (2nd, .455 – 55-of-121) and made three-pointers per game (6th, 2.1 3pg.).

• Andre Dawkins is 18 points shy of becoming the 63rd Duke player to reach 1,000 points in a career. Dawkins has 982 points in his career and averages a career-high 9.2 per game this season.

Duke rode a suffocating defensive effort to a 68-51 win over Georgia Tech and in the process gained their 21st win of the season. The streaking Blue Devils are now 9-1 in their last ten outings and they are currently one of the nations hottest teams and ranked fifth in the country.

It was all business for Duke from the start as they took control and were never threatened. This allowed Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski to play his bench early and often as his team cruised to a win behind another double-double from its star freshman Jabari Parker.

Parker ended the game with 16 points and 14 rebounds and in one of the more baffling cheer moments in the ACC this season, Georgia Tech fans chanted "overrated," as Parker was at the free throw stripe with a stat stuffing stat line in play.

The Blue Devils were the recipient of a solid effort from Tyler Thornton who dished four early assists in the first half and played a solid overall floor game. Thornton also played solid defense and helped set the pace of the game to the Blue Devils liking.

And then there was Rodney Hood who nailed a bushel of three pointers to practically deliver a TKO in the first half. Hood ended the contest with 14 points while Rasheed Sulaimon added 11 points and with Parker were the only Duke players in double figures.

Duke held Robert Carter Jr. in check and he's a player who has had success in the past against the Blue Devils. His return did little to spark the Yellow Jackets, but he ended the game as their top scorer with 13 points.

The Blue Devils defense held the Yellow Jackets to 35% shooting for the game. The 51 points Duke allowed was the second lowest total of the season, with Elon last December 31st being the lowest points allowed at 48 points.

Duke went into Atlanta and jumped on the Yellow Jackets before they settled in and this allowed them to cruise down the stretch. So mission accomplished

The Blue Devils will now return to Durham in the early morning and have less than 48 hours to prepare for their trip to Chapel Hill where they will take on another hot team in their arch rival North Carolina.

The postponement of last week's Duke/Carolina game until this Thursday, February 20, has some Duke fans a little nervous. The Blue Devils are now scheduled to play three tough games in a span of only five days -- tonight at Georgia Tech; Thursday, February 20 at North Carolina; and then Saturday, February 22, at home against undefeated Syracuse. The concern appears to be that Duke might be worn down by the end of the week and be at less than their best for the much anticipated rematch with the top ranked Orange.

Should the rest of us be worried too? Let's take a look at similar situations in the past 30 years before we decide.

Certainly three games in five days is a lot of basketball, but it's not unprecedented. In fact, next Saturday's game against Syracuse will mark the 53rd time since the beginning of the 1983-84 season that Duke plays three games in five or fewer days.

How have Coach Mike Krzyzewski's Duke teams fared in the previous 52 such encounters? Have the Devils run out of gas by the third game?

Not so much. Duke has won 45 of the 52 third-game-in-five-days contests, a winning percentage of 86.5%.

Twenty-five of the 52 games came either in the ACC Tournament or in pre-season tournaments where the teams Duke was playing had also played three games in three days. Of those 25 games, Duke won 20 and lost 5 (80.0%), which means when Duke had played a 3-in-5-or-fewer stretch and their opponents probably hadn't, Duke won 25 and lost 2 (92.6%).

Thirty of the third-games came against unranked opponents. In those games, Duke won 28 and lost 2 (93.3%). When the third opponent was nationally ranked, Duke won 17 and lost 5 (77.3%), significantly worse than when the opponent was unranked, but that's to be expected. Duke's winning percentage against ranked teams is significantly worse than against unranked teams no matter how much rest the team has between games.

Here's a further breakdown:

THREE GAMES IN FIVE OR FEWER DAYS -- 1983-84 to 2013-14

TOTAL: 45 wins, 7 losses, 86.5%
DURING THE ACC TOURNAMENT: 13 wins, 3 losses, 81.3%
REGULAR SEASON: 32 wins, 4 losses, 88.9%
AFTER JANUARY 1 UNTIL END OF REGULAR SEASON: 15 wins, 1 loss, 93.8%
WHEN THIRD GAME COMES AGAINST A RANKED TEAM*: 17 wins, 5 losses, 77.3%

* - 11 of those 22 games came in the ACC Tournament; Duke won 9 and lost 2 of those

Of particular interest are similar stretches during the ACC season, since that's what we'll be facing next week. In those situations, Duke has amassed an amazing 15 wins against only one loss (93.8%).

However, all 16 of those games occurred in 1993 or earlier, so it could be argued that times have changed and Duke's past record is the past. With that in mind, let's look at Duke's record in three-games-in-five-or-fewer-days situations since the turn of the century:

THREE GAMES IN FIVE OR FEWER DAYS -- 1999-2000 to 2013-14

TOTAL: 20 wins, 2 losses, 90.9%
DURING THE ACC TOURNAMENT: 9 wins, 1 losses, 90.0%
REGULAR SEASON: 11 wins, 1 losses, 91.7%
AFTER JANUARY 1 UNTIL END OF REGULAR SEASON: 0 wins, 0 losses
WHEN THIRD GAME COMES AGAINST A RANKED TEAM**: 10 wins, 0 losses, 100.0%

** - 5 of those 10 games came in the ACC Tournament; Duke won all 5

There have only been 22 such situations since the 1999-2000 season, compared to 30 such stretches from 1983-84 to 1998-99, but in the latter period Duke's winning percentage is better in every category (except the category containing zero games). Frankly, Duke's performance in third games on short rest during in the past 15 seasons could be fairly characterized as astonishing.

So what's going to happen this week? Who knows. That's why they play the games. But history suggests Coach K has a pretty good idea how to make sure the third game doesn't present a disadvantage for Duke. To my eyes, the numbers above make it very clear that if Duke loses to Syracuse, it won't be because short rest after the rescheduled game made the players too tired to play their best.

pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppThere There are nights when you don't shoot the ball well and that was the case for Duke against Maryland today in Cameron Indoor Stadium where the Blue Devils shot 33% from the field for the game.  Duke also shot just 20.8% from beyond the three-point stripe which translates into their worst production of the year in an area that is normally it's strength.

Normally when that happens, a team will lose but the Blue Devils held on for a hard-fought 69-67 win over a pesky Maryland team. Many immediately starting seeing just the negatives but if you've played the game before you realize that this win comes with benefits.

Let me explain. When you win a game you could have easily lost, it means you tough out a win. When you tough out a win and you don't play your typical game, it wakes you up and you prepare better when practice starts back.

Duke faces a trap game when they travel to Georgia Tech this week before they return to the Triangle and play a red-hot North Carolina team and an undefeated Syracuse team a mere two days later.  Games like today's helps to better prepare you for adversity in that it serves as a wake up call in the way one dodges a bullet. Duke started the game strong and they built a 10 point lead, but props to the Terps who played a solid game and came back to put a serious scare in the Blue Devils and a rowdy capacity Cameron crowd.

Even today, the Blue Devils benefitted from earlier game experiences  which helped them to win a close game and the staff can only hope that this helps a young team round the corner with the one and done season in March just around the corner.

That's what the season is about.  That being a process of growth and despite what many will consider a lack luster performance or a close call, the Blue Devils did the most important thing in that they came away with a win to push their ACC record to 9-3.  Duke also won their 20th game of the year for the 18th consecutive season.  Quite the accomplishment, huh?

Duke was once again led by their freshman standout Jabari Parker who tallied 23 points to go with 8 rebounds. Amile Jefferson helped as well with 12 rebounds, an area some consider a weakness for Duke. And any time a team can win dishing a season low six assists, then it is one of those games you feel fortunate to win.

It's just too easy to focus on the negatives this time of year for many but with a road visit to Georgia Tech coming up Tuesday, you just want to win and move forward for the bottom line is the score doesn't really matter in this one nor the fact that it was a close call in the standings.

Krzyzewski pointed to the fact that Duke was taken out of their routine after being ready to play against North Carolina before the game was cancelled.  This included not going to classes and that led to a tough Friday practice after what was termed a disappointing this past Thursday.

But let's not under value the Maryland effort for they played Duke as tough as they ever do and they can be proud of their performance where they took one of the nation's top teams to the wire. After holding Dez Wells in check for the first half, he found his mojo in the second scoring 17 points and having his way with Duke guards who struggled to defend him.

That meant Rasheed Sulaimon had to run the point for much of the game again and he did so well enough for Duke to win on a night when stars like Rodney Hood were saddled with foul trouble.

Anyhow, Jabari Parker was the difference in my eyes and with that said here is what he had to say in the Duke locker room after the game.

Duke vs. Maryland

February 15, 2014 • 6 p.m.

Durham, N.C. • Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)

ESPN • Blue Devil IMG Sports Network

The Opening Tip

• Duke returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium this Saturday to host Maryland at 6 p.m. The game will air on ESPN2 and the Blue Devil IMG Sports Network.

• Duke’s previous game – a Feb. 12 contest against North Carolina in Chapel Hill – was postponed due to weather and will be played on Feb. 20 at 9 p.m. in Chapel Hill.

• Duke has won 29 consecutive home games, which is the second-longest streak in the nation. Duke is 13-0 at home this season and has held nine straight opponents under 70 points.

• Duke is ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The Blue Devils are 75-17 all-time when ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll.

• The Blue Devils are 18-2 against unranked opponents this season with their lone losses coming on the road against ACC foes Notre Dame (77-79) and Clemson (59-72).

The Last Time Out

• Jabari Parker logged his eighth double-double of the year with career highs of 29 points and 16 rebounds to lead Duke past Boston College, 89-68, Saturday at the Conte Forum. Parker hit 12-of-17 shots from the field – also a career high for made field goals – while adding three blocks and five offensive rebounds.

• Duke hit 11-of-21 three-pointers, including five from Quinn Cook who scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range. Cook dished out three assists and did not commit a turnover in 26 minutes.

• Tyler Thornton and Rasheed Sulaimon recorded six assists apiece while combining for just one turnover. The turnover-free performance was Thornton’s fourth in a row.

• The Blue Devils outrebounded Boston College 37-23 with 12 offensive rebounds, including five from Parker. Duke turned those opportunities into 22 second-chance points.

By The Numbers

• Duke returned to the Associated Press Top 10 Monday, climbing from No. 11 to No. 8 in the most recent poll following 20-point wins over Wake Forest and Boston College. Duke has been ranked in the AP top 10 for 302 of the past 334 polls.

• The Blue Devils are one win shy of winning 20 or more games for the 18th straight season and 49th time overall. Duke has won at least 20 games in 29 of head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s 34 seasons.

• Duke has won seven of its past eight games with the lone loss during that stretch coming at the hands of now-No. 1 Syracuse, 91-89, in overtime. Duke has beaten five of those eight opponents by 20 points or more.

• The Blue Devils are shooting .420 (232-of-552) from three-point range this sea