Category Archives: Duke Basketball

Duke defense holds off Hokies 67-55

Singler helps Duke get past Hokies
Kyle Singler tallied 25 points and 10 rebounds vs Virginia Tech - Lance King Images

Durham, N.C. - Duke defeated Virginia Tech by a 67-55 score to remain atop the ACC standings with a 11-2 mark and in the process pushed their record to 23-4 over all.

The Blue Devils overcame their second worst shooting performance of the season 29%, to win a very physical contest over the Hokies who dropped to 8-4 in the ACC and 21-5 overall.

Once again, the Blue Devils big three came through on the offensive end.  Kyle Singler had one of his better games of the season, scoring 25 points to go with 10 rebounds.  Singler earned the praise of Krzyzewski after the game, "Kyle played a great game defensively and he kept the ball alive.  Some of his offensive rebounds turned into points."

Nolan Smith was huge down the stretch on his way to 23 points and Jon Scheyer added 15 points and a team high 7 assists.

Oddly, Miles Plumlee was the only other Blue Devil who scored, hitting 1 point, meaning just four players scratched.

Once again, Brian Zoubek was a man on the boards grabbing a game high 16 rebounds and adding 3 points. "He [Zoubek] played with a lot of emotion ... 16 rebounds is a lot and eight of them were on the offensive end where he kicked it back out," said Krzyzewski on the seniors play.

Notes - Duke outscored their opponent 27-9 on second chance shots and had 14 points off turnovers.  As usual, the Blue Devils knocked down their free throws going 21-26 while the Hokies were 15-16.  Another huge difference was that Duke hit 10 three pointers to the Hokies 2.  The lead changed seven times.  Duke's largest lead was the final margin.

We'll have more shortly -

Blue Devil Women close in on regular season title by defeating Maryland

DURHAM, N.C.—Junior Karima Christmas registered a career-high 25 points as the eighth-ranked Blue Devils downed Maryland, 71-59, on Sunday afternoon in Cameron Indoor Stadium.  The Blue Devils won their 15th straight ACC game at home and are now one victory away from clinching first place in the ACC.

Joy Cheek added 17 points and junior Jasmine Thomas became the 26th player in Duke history to register 1,000 career points as she finished with eight.

Duke will next host Virginia on Friday, Feb. 26 at 8:30 p.m., which will mark senior night for Cheek, Keturah Jackson and Bridgette Mitchell.

For a full recap, click on www.GoDuke.com

Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie

Opening statement:

“Just really proud of our fight in a 40-hour turnaround. We had a tough game at Georgia Tech and coming back to play. I’m really proud of our team’s poise and focus and their maturity in dealing with a situation where you don’t really have a practice per se before you play again. So, I’m very proud of our team, our effort, our fight especially in the second half in particular I thought we did some very good things there.  Karima [Christmas] was outstanding. She was attacking at all times, very aggressive, very confident, and showed a tremendous amount of leadership on the floor, which was just so fun to watch. And Joy [Cheek] was incredible playing the three, playing the four, running different out of bounds plays from different spots when Jas[mine Thomas] was on the bench or KJ [Keturah Jackson] was out. We had enormous foul trouble; leadership was critical to this game, and Joy just stepped right into that role whether she was passing, whether she was scoring, or whether she simply was telling everybody what to do out there, or what defense to be in. It was a good game for us. We can play better, certainly, but it was a good game especially considering the circumstances.”

On this game’s similarities to the previous tough match-up at Georgia Tech:

“I think they look to each other, they’re a very confident group. I think KJ [Keturah Jackson] said it in the locker room. She said, ‘Our huddles are tight,’ she was sort of joking about it because I think they might have knocked heads or something. But, what I mean by that is I think our huddles are tight. I think this team is very focused, they’re all looking in the same direction, and they’re excited by the challenge at hand. We all know it’s not going to be easy. You can’t get thinking at all that lopsided scores are the way things go. You can have some lopsided games, but those are really not at all what it boils down to especially in the NCAA tournament. So, the bottom line is that you’ve got to love a fight, and I think this team keeps the huddles tight and loves the fight.”

On scores down the stretch off of offensive rebounds:

“I think we had great shots. I don’t view that as a struggle in any way. I thought we got to the foul line. I think an offensive rebound is as good a play as any play, and I like that we got put backs in different places that were necessary. I thought it was a great finish.”

On Karima Christmas’ play today:

“Karima can be a monster on the boards. She’s incredible that way. I just think it was her attack; she was not satisfied. She did hit some great shots as you saw, but she wasn’t just playing from the outside in, I think she played from the inside out meaning she was going off the dribble, going around people. Karima is so athletic that she has that ability in midair to sort of change directions. So, she could get around people at the rim and finish at the rim, and I think that’s very important. It was great to see. And like I said, Karima never looked tired either, and that was the beauty of it. Considering our situation, I really thought the team looked tough and strong, and actually got better as the game went. That’s what it appeared to me. The first half was a little funny feeling; we had to sort of dust ourselves off after the first half. But in the second half I thought we got better as the game went on.”

On finishing up ACC play strong:

“It’s all for the same thing: getting better, growing as a team, taking out team’s best players if we can, and getting ready for next. It’s all about March and building and getting better as a team, so we’ve got formidable opponents. We’ve got a nice hard finish here. As you know we’ve got Virginia coming in and then we’ve got an away game, so it’s all about getting better. And I think we are getting better, but we’ve got a lot to do on this rebounding. I don’t like these rebounding stats. We haven’t been rebounding to well, and we’re going to need to change that. So, we’ve got another opportunity in next game to try and get that changed around.”

Senior Joy Cheek

On how physical the game was:

“It doesn’t bother me. It was about as physical as the last team played that was physical. [Lynetta] Kizer’s very physical. I got checked a few times from her. It was a battle down there, but you know we came on top.”

On what got her going offensively:

“Just to be productive. You can’t play minutes and not do anything. So that was just my mind mindset. When I had a shot open a lot of times I hesitate. But tonight, I didn’t hesitate I just took the shots that were open and they were falling for me. I was trying to get on the boards the best I can and just make things happen. Pass the ball, whatever, to get our offense going.”

On the team’s outside shooting:

“I think that was credit to us just taking the shot. Like Karima said, we were thinking open is in. So we saw the basket, we didn’t have a defender, and we just shot the ball. And we had confidence that it was going in, and if it didn’t go in, we were trying to get on the boards. It was just shooting and taking open shots.”

On making the best pass:

“We always talk about that. Make the next pass because it will be the better pass. We always talk about moving the ball and getting the best shot that we can. I think we definitely did that during our position.”

On the intensity of the crowd:

“I actually thought about that. When Jasmine [Thomas] stole the ball and went in for the layup, it was loud. You need that because you can see their faces just drop. Even when we’re away, you feel that when a crowd gets pumped. And when you’re at home you need that. You want to shush them and get them worrying and make them tense. I can’t remember who I was looking at but remember thinking, ‘yeah we got them shook.’”

Junior Karima Christmas

On how physical the game was:

“Yes, it’s always fun to have a battle and go back and forth at each other. And obviously we work hard in the weight room so it shows off when we can be able to battle with other people.”

On how her confidence changed after her first 3-pointer:

“I think I just stayed focused. If I was open and I had the opportunity to shoot, I just shot like it was a regular shot. It wasn’t really confidence boosting, I just took the open shot.”

Head Coach Brenda Frese

Opening Statement:

“Like I told the team in the locker room, I’m really proud of our young team. To have five freshmen and four sophomores come in here and battle the No. 7 team in the country the way we did, in terms of the physicality of the game, the aggressiveness. Like I told them, the first 36 minutes, we were there. The last four minutes, you saw veterans for Duke step up and provide great leadership. And I thought the last four minutes of the game was the difference – the offensive rebounds, the fouls, the put-backs – things we could control, they did a tremendous job. Obviously, I think the five-point play – the first I think I’ve ever seen in my coaching career. Probably it was the difference in the game in terms of that play being made. But credit Duke’s defense. I thought they really were aggressive, forced us into a lot of turnovers.”

On Maryland’s play in the second half:

“Obviously, we had to play small. We were in serious foul trouble to have two players foul out. It changes the strategy in terms of what you’re doing. But you credit Bridgette Mitchell as a senior. She seems at both our place and here, I mean she just always seems to make a big play, and that’s what seniors do – they step up and make big plays, just like Lori [Bjork] has for us all season. But for us, we only have one senior on the roster. So that just was the difference in the game, I thought, in the second half.

On what the team can learn from the loss:

“I told them after the game, I still love where we’re playing at. There were moments and stretches in this game where I’m watching our defense and I’m watching our intensity, and we’re matching it on the road at Duke against a team that I think is really physical and extremely tough, and the ranking is deserving. Absolutely, and I feel like there’s still so much of the season left for us to be able to continue to gain momentum from this game with what we have left.”

On Maryland’s progress this season:

“When you look at our first ACC game to where we are now, and I think that’s the thing I’m most proud of, is that there was a point in this season this team could have folded. It just shows great character to be able to come out every single day to practice and just want to improve and want to get better.”

On getting a bid to the NCAA tournament:

“I think we just continue to take one day at a time. I think there’s a lot of basketball left for us – with the two games we have left, with the ACC tournament. When you play hard and you compete like we did today, those things will all take care of itself.”

On matching up with Duke:

“I think, first of all, our team believes we can beat them. I think that’s the first thing when you watch teams come in here and kind of lay an egg. We have the confidence because we’ve done it in the past. We love the matchup. It brings out the best in us. But I think rebounding-wise, we can match it, especially with the way they like to go to the offensive end. So, I think from that end, it’s been an area that’s helped us be successful against them.”

On limiting Duke’s Jasmine Thomas:

“If you would have told me before we started the game if we held Jasmine to eight points you were going to lose, I wouldn’t have believed you. I thought [Karima] Christmas was spectacular. Those three’s she hit from the three-point line, it was Christmas for her. I just thought she did a tremendous job and was a big difference, obviously, for them, stepping up and making those plays while Jasmine was in foul trouble.”

On Maryland’s defensive play:

“Minus those four minutes that got away from us – I think obviously, when you lose Diandra [Tchatchouang], which we did, and you lose that kind of 6-3 presence inside on the glass, we had to go smaller in terms of the zone and even our man matchups. I think that’s what hurt us. But absolutely, I feel like this team can rebound with anybody.”

Sophomore Center Lynetta Kizer

On the atmosphere at Cameron:

“It was a great atmosphere. All week we just talked about embracing it, and I think that’s what we did today – just embrace the atmosphere.”

Senior Guard Lori Bjork

On the rivalry with Duke:

“It’s a lot of fun. This is why, I think, everybody in a red uniform, why we came to Maryland. We wanted to play in these types of matchups, so it’s something that, like Lynetta said, we definitely embraced it and we wanted to play in it.”

On Duke limiting her in the second half:

“I think every team at this point knows that if they leave me wide open, I’m probably going to shoot it, and I might make it. They do a good job of identifying me. I just thought in the second half, their pressure didn’t necessarily give our guards a chance to even find me, because I thought they upped their pressure another level, and it was very hard to find me even when I was open.”

On Duke’s pressure late in the game:

“They were forcing us to take time off the clock, obviously, at the end, in the last four minutes or so. We’ve just got to attack the basket, and I thought we showed some signs of doing that, and that’s what we have to build off of.”

Previewing the Hokies

Lance King photo
Duke (22-4, 10-2) hosts Virginia Tech (21-4, 8-3) on Sunday February 21 at 7:45 pm EST.

The Atlantic Coast Conference tracks 21 team statistics; Duke is ranked number one in 12 of the categories and number two in a 13th category. Virginia Tech is not ranked number one in any category, however, they are ranked number two in two categories: scoring defense and turnover margin. Virginia Tech is last in the conference in field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, and assists.

In the individual categories, Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney is the conference scoring leader at 20.2 points per game. Dorenzo Hudson is 12th at 14 ppg. For Duke, Jon Scheyer is 2nd at 19.1 ppg, Nolan Smith is 4th at 17.7 ppg, and Kyle Singler is 8th at 16.6 ppg.

Reviewing the statistics indicates this game should be a mismatch as Virginia Tech is a team with serious offensive issues. However, reaching that conclusion would be narrow-minded as one must take into account Virginia Tech's 8-3 conference record. As usual, the Hokies know how to win ugly.

In conference play, the Hokies are 6-0 at home and have road wins over Virginia and N.C. State. Out of conference, they have won at Penn State and at Iowa, teams which are currently tenth and 11th in the Big 10. Virginia Tech’s road resume isn’t going to impress anyone and Duke is undefeated in Cameron Indoor Stadium. This is more evidence the game is a mismatch.

It would be easy to describe this game as a showdown between Duke’s big three of Scheyer, Smith, and Singler; and Virginia Tech’s marquee players of Delaney, Allen, and Hudson. In reality, the outcome will most likely be determined by the play of the supporting cast. Lance Thomas (6’8” 225) is a defensive specialist who can impact games by containing the opponent’s better players. Look for Thomas to draw a tough defensive assignment.

Senior Brian Zoubek (7’1” 260) has played great in recent games. He started for the first time this season and scored 16 points and hauled in 17 rebounds in Duke’s win over Maryland. He followed up with 10 points, five rebounds, and five steals in the win at Miami. Zoubek has been previously limited against smaller quicker teams, but his footwork and defensive positioning have been excellent recently. Zoubek credited his physical conditioning for the improved play.

Sophomore Miles Plumlee (6’10 240) and freshman Mason Plumlee (6’10” 230) are two additional members of the supporting cast who could sway the outcome of this contest. The brothers combine to contribute 10.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game though they have been limited at times with foul trouble.

The Blue Devils have a size advantage over Virginia Tech as the Hokies biggest starter is Jeff Allen (6’7” 230). Victor Davila (6’8” 245) averages 5.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. Duke leads the ACC in rebounding margin at +6.3, while Virginia Tech is ninth at +2.9. However, Virginia Tech is fifth in offensive rebounds averaging 13.3 per game. It is imperative Duke utilize their size advantage to keep Virginia Tech off the offensive glass.

The keys to the game will be:

Limiting fouls: Virginia Tech is a woeful offensive team and they rely upon free throws to score points. The Hokies average 18 of their 72.6 points from the charity stripe. Duke must contain Virginia Tech’s guard’s ability to penetrate into the lane without fouling. Zoubek and the Plumlee brothers will need to provide solid help defense.

Rebounds: Duke must capitalize on their size advantage and control the glass. The Blue Devils lead the ACC in rebounding margin and should be able to score second chance points via offensive rebounds.

Supporting cast: One or two of Duke’s rotation players four through nine will need to step up with solid games to tip the balance in Duke’s favor.

While on paper, Virginia Tech appears to be overmatched against Duke this will be a tough battle between two top tier ACC teams. Virginia Tech has played Duke tough in Cameron Indoor Stadium in the past, defeating Duke 69-67 in 2007, and losing 77-75 in 2005, on Sean Dockery’s halfcourt buzzer beater.

Duke has won the last three games in the series. Last season, Duke won 72-65 in Blacksburg and 69-44 in Durham. In 2008, Duke won 81-64 in Blacksburg. Expect tomorrow’s game to be a close affair decided over the last five minutes of the contest.

Virginia Tech at Duke Game Notes

[6 AP/6 Coaches] Duke (22-4, 10-2 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (21-4, 8-3 ACC)

Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010  •  7:45 p.m.  •  FSN

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

The Opening Tip

Duke (22-4, 10-2 ACC), ranked sixth in the AP poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, faces unranked Virginia Tech (21-4, 8-3 ACC) at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 7:45 p.m. The game will air on FSN with Tim Brando, Mike Gminski and Debbie Antonelli calling the action.

The Last Time Out

Duke overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to post an 81-74 win over Miami on Wednesday at the BankUnited Center. Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer combined for 49 of Duke’s 56 second half points in the win.

Singler finished with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. He was 4-of-7 from three-point range in the contest and also added four assists.

Smith tallied 21 points, including 18 in the second half. The Upper Marlboro, Md., native knocked down a career-high five three-point field goals. Scheyer scored all 15 of his points in the second half of play while also adding six assists and five steals.

Senior Brian Zoubek continued his strong play on the inside with 10 points, five rebounds (four offensive boards), two assists and a career-best five steals.

After falling behind 37-25 in the opening 20 minutes of play, Duke outscored Miami 22-5 over the first seven minutes of the second half to take control of the game. The Blue Devils buried nine three-pointers in the second half and finished 13-of-29 (.448) from deep in the contest.

Numbers Game

l Duke is ranked sixth in the AP poll, marking the 51st consecutive week ranked in the top 10. The Blue Devils are 95-28 all-time when ranked sixth in the AP poll.

l The Blue Devils have won 16 straight games at Cameron Indoor Stadium, including eight consecutive ACC contests.

l Duke is 14-0 at home on the year with a scoring margin of +27.6 points per game. The Blue Devils have won 13 home games by double figures and 11 of their 14 games at Cameron Indoor Stadium by 20 or more points.

l Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are the second-highest scoring trio in the NCAA at a combined 53.4 points per game. The threesome has accounted for 71 double-figure scoring games (out of 76 games) and 33 of Duke’s 34 individual games with 20 or more points scored.

l Jon Scheyer leads the ACC in four statistical categories and is the only player in the league to rank in the top 5 in seven statistical categories; scoring (second, 19.1 ppg.), assists (fourth, 5.4 apg.), free throw percentage (first, .888), three-point field goals (first, 2.8 3pg.), three-point field goal percentage (fourth, .406), assist-to-turnover ratio (first, 3.04:1) and minutes (t-first, 36.5 mpg.).

l Junior Kyle Singler is averaging a team-best 18.6 points and 3.8 three-point field goals per game during Duke’s current five-game win streak. He is 19-of-33 (.576) from three-point range in that span.

l Brian Zoubek ranks third in the ACC in offensive rebounds (3.3 orpg) and tied for 15th in total rebounds (6.5 rpg.), while playing 16 minutes per game. Since joining the starting lineup two games ago, he is averaging 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds (6.0 orpg.) per game. Zoubek ranks among the national leaders with 16.3 rebounds per 40 minutes played.

l Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer are a combined 35-of-67 (.522) from three-point range in the last five games. The Blue Devils are shooting 45.4 percent (44-of-97) as a team from behind the arc during that stretch.

l Duke is collecting 14.9 offensive rebounds per game for the year, the second-most in the Coach K era. The Blue Devils are averaging 16.0 second chance points per game and are 21-2 when scoring more second chance points than their opponent.

Checking in on ...

#2 Nolan Smith - +9.3 ppg. increase from a year ago leads the ACC ... shooting a career-best 41.9 percent from three-point range ... second on the team with 11 games with 20+ points scored ... double figures in 23 of 24 games played

#5 Mason Plumlee - Second on the team with 21 dunks ... tied for third with 18 blocks ... season-high nine rebounds vs. North Carolina

#12 Kyle Singler - Four double-doubles and five games with 10+ rebounds ... averaging 18.7 points per game in the last six contests ... 25 three-point field goals in that span

#20 Andre Dawkins - Fourth on the team with 29 three-point field goals ... shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range

#21 Miles Plumlee - Leads the team with 28 dunks ... shooting 57.3 percent (63-of-110) from the field

#30 Jon Scheyer - 20+ points in five of the last seven games ... ranks in the top 10 of the ACC in eight statistical categories ... leads the league in minutes, free throw percentage, three-point field goals and assist-to-turnover ratio ... league-high 13 games with 20 or more points ... three-time ACC Player of the Week

#34 Ryan Kelly - 14 blocked shots ... one of five Blue Devils with 10+ blocks

#42 Lance Thomas - Leads the Blue Devils with 11 charges taken ... 5 or more rebounds in seven of the last nine games

#55 Brian Zoubek - Four or more offensive rebounds 10 times ... averaging 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds, while shooting 73.3 pct (11-of-15) from the field in the last two games (both starts).

Rivers tallies 41 points to lead his team in front of Coach K

Rivers eying Duke
Krzyzewski watched Rivers drop 41 points - Photo BDNP

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski is a busy man these days and the reasons are quite simple.  His team is fighting for the ACC regular season title with a huge game coming up against Virginia Tech, a team with the leagues second best record this Sunday.

Despite the coming match up and the fact that Duke just defeated Miami on the road, Krzyzewski took time out to see one of the most coveted talents in the class of 2011 in Austin Rivers.

Rivers is, of course, the son of Doc Rivers, a former NBA standout who now coaches the Boston Celtics.  He plays for Winter Park High School, a team fighting their way towards a state title.

It's fair to say Krzyzewski was pleased with Rivers effort last evening in that he scored 41 points and led his team to an easy win.

Rivers nailed 7 of 12 three pointers and 12 of his 41 points came in the final quarter before he went to the bench as Krzyzewski left for his return to Durham.

Rivers gave a verbal to Florida just after their second national championship and he has a lot of Florida ties, but he is indeed looking at Duke, having toured the campus with his Mom and brother in September.

Quite simply, Rivers, like many prospects, commited early and now he has decided to reevaluate the situation.

Rivers maintains he is still committed to Florida, but he is quick to show adoration for the man known as Coach K and is up front that Duke is the only school that could sway him away and that he is open to the possibility.

Despite what some might have you think, it was the Rivers' who contacted Duke, not the other way around, but make no mistake, the Blue Devils were thrilled and open to the prospect of gaining an elite talent.

By the time last season's AAU Nationals came about, the word was generating through the college basketball recruiting world that Rivers was wavering on his early verbal and Krzyzewski and the Duke staff had been watching Rivers since the Peach Jam, an AAU event in Augusta.

Duke has had past success with young men with NBA lineage.  One of those who comes to mind is current assistant coach Chris Collins, whose Dad, Doug, has coached and announced for the league.

Currently on the Duke roster, Seth Curry is the son of Dell Curry, another NBA standout, and, of course, Nolan Smith, the son of Derrick Smith.

Gerald Henderson joined the Charlotte Bobcats this season but his Dad was Gerald Sr., a Celtic star during championship years.

Don't forget Mike Dunleavy, son of  Mike Dunleavy, Sr., and Danny Ferry, the current GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers and his Dad, Bob, was a former player and lauded for his GM work in Washington.

In short, there has been an NBA flavor to Duke's roster for a good while now and you can bet they would love for Austin Rivers to join the list.

Rivers is averaging 24.5 ppg this season and his team will next face Edgewater [26-3] this coming Tuesday evening as the play-offs continue.

If his Winter Park team advances to the finals, it is the same day as the UNC at Duke contest in a game he is scheduled to make.  While this could certainly derail the visit, one must keep in mind that tip-off is at 9:00 EST, so there is a chance he could make it.

Duke fans hope that Rivers will be able to take in some of the atmosphere in the season finale in Durham, where ESPN Gameday will be on the scene.

Either way, Austin Rivers is genuinely interested in Duke and it is obvious that Krzyzewski wants to coach another NBA coach or player's son.

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