Yearly Archives: 2014

Duke Football

Duke breaks ground on Wallace Wade Stadium renovation

DURHAM - The Blue Devils ground out a 41-21 victory against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday to finish 9-3 on the season. Duke seniors Anthony Boone, Jamison Crowder, and Issac Blakeney led the way on Senior Night. Boone finished 19/31 with 275 yards and 2 touchdowns, while both Crowder and Blakeney topped 100 yards receiving.

After the game, the Blue Devils broke ground on the Wallace Wade Stadium renovation. Head Coach David Cutcliffe and an enthusiastic AD Kevin White addressed the crowd before the ceremony.

Coach Cutcliffe
http://youtu.be/UAOSNuarz_8
 

Dr. White
http://youtu.be/c2bgOgsYNFk

Duke Basketball

Army at Duke By The Numbers

Clemson v DukeDuke (6-0) vs. Army (5-0)

Sunday, November 30, 2014 • 12:02 p.m. • ESPNU

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

The Opening Tip

• Duke (6-0) hosts Army (5-0) Sunday, Nov. 30 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a battle between undefeated teams. Tipoff is set for 12:02 p.m. with ESPNU televising the contest.

• Mike Krzyzewski is facing his alma mater for the sixth time in his career. Krzyzewski led Army to three NIT appearances as a player and compiled a 73-59 record as head coach at Army from 1976-80.

• Duke is ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 2 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Blue Devils are 63-13 all-time when ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll. Army enters the game unranked in both polls.

• The Blue Devils have won an NCAA-best 112 straight non-conference home games, more than twice as many as the next closest school (Syracuse - 53).

• Duke owns the longest active home win streak in the NCAA at 36 games. The 36-game streak is the fourth-best mark in school history and ACC history. NC State won 36 straight home games from 1972-75, while Duke matched that feat from 1991-93.

• Duke has featured a balanced scoring attack with seven players averaging at least 7.5 points per game. The Blue Devils have had 25 double figure scoring games.

• Eight different Blue Devils have scored in double-figures this season with Quinn Cook and Jahlil Okafor reaching double figures in all six contests.

• Duke is coming off a 93-54 win over Furman Wednesday, Nov. 26. The Blue Devils dominated the interior finishing with a +36 margin on points in the paint (54-18).

• The Blue Devils shot 57.6 percent (38-of-66) from the field marking the third time in three games at home that Duke has shot 57.0 percent or better from the field.

u By the numbers

• Quinn Cook has scored in double figures and made at least three three-point field goals in all six contests this season. He leads the ACC in three-point field goals (3.3 3pg.), while also ranking among the conference leaders in scoring (16.0 ppg. - T-10th), three-point percentage (.455 - 9th), assists (4.3 apg. - 9th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5.20:1 - 3rd).

• Mike Krzyzewski has started three or more freshmen in a game 41 times at Duke, including all six games this season. Coach K started three or more freshmen 27 times during the 1982-83 season.

• Duke’s top-rated freshmen class - Grayson Allen, Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow - combines to average 46.5 points per game while shooting an efficient 52.7 percent (98-of-186) from the field. The group has combined for 14 of Duke’s 25 double figure scoring games this season.

• The Blue Devils have trailed for just 29 seconds through the first six games of the season. Duke trailed Fairfield, 2-0, for 18 seconds and Stanford, 2-0, for 11 seconds.

• Duke has won each of the first six games by 10 or more points, marking the first time since the 2010-11 season it has accomplished that feat. The Blue Devils have not opened a season with seven double-figure wins since the 2002-03 campaign.

• Duke has made 41 more three-point field goals than its opposition on the year. The Blue Devils are 59-of-144 (.410), while holding the opposition to just 18-of-90 (.200) shooting from behind the arc. Quinn Cook has more three-point field goals (20) than Duke has allowed (18) on the year.

• Jahlil Okafor scored a season-high 24 points on 12-of-14 shooting in the win over Furman. He made his final 12 shots of the contest and is second in the ACC in field goal percentage (.649) and tied for fourth in scoring (17.2 ppg.)

• Amile Jefferson continues to be active on the glass, averaging a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game (T-9th in the ACC). He has collected 24 of his 50 rebounds on the offensive end of the floor and is tied for third in the league in offensive rebounds (4.0 orpg.).

• Duke’s backcourt tandem of Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones have combined for 58 assists with just 12 turnovers (4.83:1 assist-to-turnover ratio) through six games. Both players rank in the top 10 of the ACC in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

• Matt Jones is averaging 7.8 points per game, while shooting 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from three-point range. As a freshman, Jones was just 3-of-21 (.143) from behind the arc and averaged 1.8 ppg.

• Duke has scored 90-or-more points in all three home contests this season. The Blue Devils are averaging 105.0 points per game, while shooting 60.9 percent (120-of-197) from the field at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

• Justise Winslow has done a little bit of everything for the Blue Devils ranking in the top three on the team in scoring (14.0 ppg - 3rd), rebounds (5.2 rpg. - 3rd), offensive rebounds (9 - 3rd), assists (13 - 3rd), blocks (4 - T-2nd), steals (6 - 3rd), field goals (26 - 3rd), three-point field goals (8 - 3rd) and free throws (24 - 1st).

• Duke is averaging 25.5 points per game off opponent turnovers. The Blue Devils have scored 20-or-more points off turnovers in five of their six games.

Duke Football

Preview: Wake Forest at Duke

Anthony Boone changes the play
Anthony Boone changes the play
Preview: Wake Forest at Duke
7:00 PM ET
Saturday, November 29
Durham, NC
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Blue Devil IMG Sports Network, Sirius Ch 108 and XM Ch 193

Duke in 2014: 8-3
Wake Forest in 2014: 3-8

DUKE INJURIES

OUT – Alonzo Saxton II (CB)
OUT FOR SEASON – Kelby Brown (LB), Braxton Deaver (TE), Taariq Shabazz (DE), Jake Kite (S)

WAKE FOREST INJURIES

Not available at this time.

Duke and Wake Forest last faced each other on November 23, 2013 in a game Duke won 28-21 at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem. Duke is coming off a 45-20 loss to North Carolina, while Wake Forest defeated Virginia Tech 6-3 in double overtime.

HOW DUKE CAN WIN

On offense, Duke must value the ball. After turning the ball over six times the past two games, the Blue Devils need to return to playing mistake free football. Wake Forest has a solid defense with good speed on the edges so it is imperative Duke's offensive line has a strong game at the line of scrimmage so the Blue Devils can establish the running game. Duke has played their best football in games where the run game clicked. In eight wins Duke has averaged 213 yards rushing, while in the three losses the number dropped to 114 yards.

Wake Forest linebacker Brandon Chubb (#48) is one player the Duke offense must account for on every play as he has a nose for the ball. Strong safety Ryan Janvion (#22) is fourth in the ACC with 104 tackles. Cornerback Kevin Johnson (#9) has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl.

On defense, Duke will look to harass true freshman quarterback John Wolford (#10) into making mistakes. Wake Forest has a woeful running game averaging only 37.7 yards per game. It is imperative the Blue Devils exploit this weakness in order to place Wolford into frequent must pass situations where he will be primed to make mistakes resulting in turnovers. Wolford has thrown 14 interceptions on the year.

Wake Forest likes to throw the ball to TE Cam Serigne (#85) who leads the Demon Deacons in receptions with 48. Duke's defense must keep track of Serigne especially when blitzing. Wide receiver E.J. Scott (#17) is Wake's second leading receiver with 47 receptions.

HOW DUKE CAN LOSE

If Duke fails to run the ball, they will lose. Offensive balance has been the key to success for Duke in 2014 so the Blue Devils cannot afford to allow Wake Forest to force them into a one-dimensional passing offense. The offensive line and running backs must find a way to achieve success on the ground against the tough Demon Deacons defense, which is ranked number 10 in the nation in fewest passing yards allowed.

If Duke fails to value the ball, they will lose. Duke has turned the ball over six times during the current two game losing streak. Quarterback and team leader Anthony Boone must rebound from subpar performances the previous two weeks with a strong game in his final appearance at Wallace Wade Stadium.

WHY DUKE WILL WIN

The Blue Devils will be motivated to finish the regular season on a high note by securing their ninth victory in 2014 and third straight in the series with Wake Forest. Duke will be focused on the task at hand rather than distracted by ACC Championship Game and Orange Bowl aspirations. Duke will win because the seniors will have the team inspired to leave it all on the field Saturday night.

BOTTOM LINE

It is gut check time for the Duke Blue Devils! After back-to-back losses, will the team snap back and play the mistake free football their success has been built upon? Or will they remain mired in the turnover fed slump of the past two weeks? Those questions have to be answered on the field; however, my money is on Duke winning in convincing fashion.

Duke 24, Wake Forest 13

Duke Basketball

Matt Jones is Embracing His Role

Matt JonesWhen one takes an early look at the Duke Blue Devils season, several players stand out.  That makes it hard to not talk about the entire roster at times after a 6-0 start tot he season.  Thus far, it appears that every returning player on the team made significant strides from a season ago.  Some of improvements are mental, while others are better movement without the ball.  One player who is playing better this season is Matt Jones.  In the off-season, Jones returned to Texas where he hit the reset button after his freshman season.  What we see now is a player who knows his strengths and one who is moving better on the court than ever before.  Jones was in the starting rotation when the season began, but his current role is coming off the bench.   Some players would see that as a demotion, but Jones realizes that on a talented team, his role is simply to fit in and contribute.  Jones came off the bench against Furman and added instant offense, but Coach Mike Krzyzewski has also praised his toughness in earlier games.  Jones is one of the many reasons Duke looks polished early on this season.  Check out what he had to say post Furman victory -

Duke Basketball

Furman at Duke By The Numbers

amileDuke (5-0) vs. Furman (1-2)

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 • 5:00 p.m. • ESPNU

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

 Opening Tip

• Duke (5-0) returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium following three straight neutral site contests to face Furman (1-2) Wednesday, Nov. 26. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. with ESPNU televising the contest.

• Duke is ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 2 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Blue Devils are 62-13 all-time when ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll. Furman enters the game unranked in both polls.

• The Blue Devils have won an NCAA-best 111 straight non-conference home games, more than twice as many as the next closest school (Syracuse - 53).

• Duke owns the longest active home win streak in the NCAA at 35 games. The Blue Devils are one home win shy of the fourth-best mark in school history and ACC history. NC State won 36 straight home games from 1972-75, while Duke matched that feat from 1991-93.

• Duke has featured a balanced scoring attack with six players averaging at least 8.0 points per game. The Blue Devils have had 21 double figure scoring games and have not have a player top the 20-point mark yet this season.

• Eight different Blue Devils have scored in double-figures this season with Quinn Cook, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow reaching double figures in all five contests.

• Jahlil Okafor has been named ACC Freshman of the Week each of the past two weeks. The Chicago, Ill., native ranks among the conference leaders in scoring, rebounds, offensive rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.

• Quinn Cook led the Blue Devils in scoring in all three games last week and is averaging a career-high 17.0 points per game. He was named MVP of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic after averaging 16.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the tournament.

u By the numbers

• Quinn Cook scored in double figures and made at least three three-point field goals in all five contests this season. He leads the ACC in three-point field goals (3.4 3pg.), while also ranking among the conference leaders in scoring (17.0 ppg. - 5th), three-point percentage (.486 - 7th), assists (4.2 apg. - 10th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5.25:1 - 2nd).

• Mike Krzyzewski has started three or more freshmen in a game 40 times at Duke, including all five games this season. Coach K started three or more freshmen 27 times during the 1982-83 season.

• Quinn Cook was named Most Valuable Player of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, becoming the second Duke player to earn MVP honors at a major in-season tournament twice in a career. Cook was also the MVP of the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis, while Kyle Singler earned MVP honors at the 2007 Maui Invitational and 2008 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

• Duke’s top-rated freshmen class - Grayson Allen, Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow - combines to average 48.7 points per game while shooting an efficient 52.6 percent (82-of-156) from the field. The group has combined for 13 of Duke’s 21 double figure scoring games this season.

• The Blue Devils have trailed for just 29 seconds through the first five games of the season. Duke trailed Fairfield, 2-0, for 18 seconds and Stanford, 2-0, for 11 seconds. The Blue Devils led wire-to-wire in wins over Presbyterian, Michigan State and Temple.

• Duke has won each of the first five games by 10 or more points, marking the first time since the 2010-11 season it has accomplished that feat.

• Duke has made 36 more three-point field goals than its opposition on the year. The Blue Devils are 48-of-115 (.417), while holding the opposition to just 12-of-72 (.167) shooting from behind the arc. Quinn Cook has more three-point field goals (17) than Duke has allowed (12) on the year.

• Jahlil Okafor (15.8 ppg.) and Justise Winslow (15.4 ppg.) rank 11th and 13th, respectively, in scoring in the ACC. They are the top two scoring freshmen in the conference and two of four freshmen to rank among the league’s scoring leaders.

• Amile Jefferson continues to be active on the glass, averaging 7.6 rebounds per game. He has collected 19 of his 38 rebounds on the offensive end of the floor and ranks sixth in the league in offensive rebounds (3.8 orpg.).

• Duke’s backcourt tandem of Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones have combined for 46 assists with just nine turnovers (5.11:1 assist-to-turnover ratio) through five games. Both players rank in the top 10 of the ACC in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

• Justise Winslow shot a season-high 10 free throws in the win over Stanford and ranks second in the ACC with 7.2 free throw attempts per game.

• Matt Jones is averaging 6.8 points per game, while shooting 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from three-point range. As a freshman, Jones was just 3-of-21 (.143) from behind the arc and averaged 1.8 ppg.

• Duke topped the 100-point mark in each of its two previous home games. The Blue Devils have not scored over 100 points in three straight home games since the 2000-01 season.

• The Blue Devils are averaging 111.0 points per game, while shooting 62.6 percent (83-of-131) from the field at Cameron Indoor Stadium.