Game 8 l Carquest Auto Parts Classic [1 AP / 1 Coaches] Duke (7-0) vs. Butler (4-2)
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010 • 3:15 p.m.
The Opening Tip• Duke faces Butler on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 3:15 p.m. (EST) in the Carquest Auto Parts Classic at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
• The game is being televised by ESPN with Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Doris Burke (sideline) calling the action.
• Duke is ranked No. 1 in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, while Butler is unranked in both polls.
• The Blue Devils enter the contest 7-0 on the year, while the Bulldogs are 4-2 overall.
• Duke has won 17 consecutive games entering Saturday’s contest.
• The Blue Devils are looking to open the season 8-0 for the 16th time under Coach K.
• Saturday’s game marks a rematch of the 2010 NCAA Championship game. Duke earned its fourth NCAA title with a 61-59 win over Butler.
Duke at the Meadowlands (Izod Center)• Duke and head coach Mike Krzyzewski are 18-1 all-time at the Meadowlands.
• The Blue Devils have won 11 consecutive games at the Meadowlands dating back to a 77-75 loss to Arizona on Feb. 26, 1989.
• Duke is 10-0 in NCAA Tournament games and 8-1 in regular season games in East Rutherford, N.J.
Duke vs. the Horizon League• Duke is 9-1 all-time against teams currently in the Horizon League.
• The Blue Devils have won seven straight games against Horizon League opposition.
• Mike Krzyzewski is 7-0 at Duke against Horizon League opponents.
• Duke has a +18.3 scoring margin versus the Horizon League with six wins by 20 or more points.
Numbers Game
l Mike Krzyzewski is one win shy of matching Adolph Rupp for third place on the all-time coaching wins list. Coach K enters Saturday’s game with 875 career wins.l The Blue Devils have won 17 consecutive games dating back to a 79-72 loss at Maryland on March 3, 2010. Duke has won 25 of its last 26 games overall.
l Duke has won 34 consecutive games against teams outside the traditional power conferences (Big Ten, Big East, SEC, ACC, PAC 10, Big 12). Virginia Commonwealth’s 79-77 win over Duke in the 2007 NCAA Tournament was the Blue Devils’ last loss to a team from a non-power conference.
l The Blue Devils have won 16 straight neutral site games dating back to a 77-54 loss to Villanova in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
l Duke has trailed a total of 3:00 this season. The Blue Devils have not trailed in the final 30 minutes of any game and have not trailed by more than two points this season.l Senior Nolan Smith leads the ACC with 18 straight double-figure scoring games. He has scored 10 or more points in 31 of the last 32 games for the Blue Devils.
l Duke’s starting backcourt of Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving combines to average 33.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 11.2 assists per game. The tandem is also shooting 53.0 percent (79-of-149) from the floor. Smith and Irving have both reached double-figures in scoring in all seven games this season.
l Duke has scored 80 or more points in six games this season. The Blue Devils have won 21 consecutive games when scoring 80+ points. Duke is 488-46 under Coach K when scoring 80 or more points in a game.
l Sophomore Mason Plumlee has three double-doubles and has grabbed 10 or more rebounds four times this season. Plumlee is averaging 13.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in the last four contests.
l Senior Kyle Singler is expected to make his 118th career start on Saturday. Duke is 99-18 with Singler in the starting lineup. Singler’s .846 winning percentage as a starter at Duke is the fourth-best in school history.
l Kyrie Irving, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are combining to average 53.8 points per game over the last four contests. l Duke is the only team in the ACC with more than one player ranked in the top 10 in scoring. Nolan Smith and Kyrie Irving are tied for fourth at 16.9 points per game, while Kyle Singler ranks seventh at 16.0 ppg.
l Freshman Kyrie Irving ranks in the top 10 of the ACC in six statistical categories (scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio).
l Duke has forced 20 or more turnovers four times this season. The Blue Devils are averaging 25.3 points per game off turnovers.
l The Blue Devils are averaging 49.0 points per game in the second half of play this season. Duke is shooting 55.5 percent (111-of-200) from the field, including 56.5 percent (39-of-69) from three-point range, over the final 20 minutes of action.
l Senior Kyle Singler is averaging 18.3 points per game while shooting 48.6 percent (18-of-37) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range in neutral site games this season.
Tag Archives: Duke-Butler
Duke vs Butler – Let’s do it again!
EAST RUTHERFORD, N..J. - Duke University and Butler University will meet in a rematch of their dramatic NCAA National Championship game on Saturday, December 4 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. The game will tip-off at 3:30 pm ET and will be televised live on ESPN.
Duke beat Butler in a 61-59 thriller to win its fourth national championship and end Butler's miracle run through the NCAA basketball tournament.
"The IZOD Center and the Meadowlands are synonymous with the best in college basketball because of games like this," said Dennis Robinson, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority President and CEO. "Duke and Butler played a championship game for the ages and I know the great fans of the metropolitan area are as excited as we are that they have agreed to this rematch."
Duke returns two starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that captured the NCAA Championship as well as ACC Tournament and ACC regular season titles. The Blue Devils, led by Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski, closed the year by winning 18 of their last 19 games to finish 35-5 overall and No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. Preseason first team All-America candidates Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith are back after combining to average 35.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game a year ago. The duo along with junior Miles Plumlee (5.2 ppg. & 4.9 rpg.) will be joined by a talented group of underclassman that includes sophomores Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee as well as newcomers Carrick Felix, Josh Hairston, Kyrie Irving and Tyler Thornton.
"We are excited to play Butler next season in the Meadowlands," said Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Given the outstanding game played between Duke and Butler in the 2010 NCAA Championship, there will be added interest in next year's matchup. Surely, Coach Stevens will have his team ready to perform at a high level. We look forward to what will be a significant challenge."
Butler captured the attention of the nation in March with its run to the NCAA National Championship game. The Bulldogs were the only team to defeat both a No. 1 seed (Syracuse) and a No. 2 seed (Kansas State) in the tournament, and Butler ended the season ranked No. 2 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. Head coach Brad Stevens guided the Bulldogs to a school-record 33-5 campaign, which included a 25-game winning streak - the nation's longest in 2009-10 - and Horizon League regular season and tournament championships. The Bulldogs return starters Shelvin Mack (14.1 ppg), Matt Howard (11.6 ppg) and Ronald Nored (6.0 ppg). Leading scorer and rebounder Gordon Hayward declared early for the NBA draft but has not signed with an agent. Butler was the only team in the nation to post an unbeaten conference record (18-0) in 2009-10.
"It's an honor for our program to be invited to play in the IZOD Center in December," said Butler Head Coach Brad Stevens. "Obviously, the challenge will be great, as we have a tremendous amount of respect for Duke."
Duke has a long history at the IZOD Center amassing an 18-1 record including five NCAA East Regional Final victories. Butler has never played at the Meadowlands.
Enjoy the moment Blue Devil Nation for these opportunities are rare
INDIANAPOLIS - Hey Duke fans! Live in the moment for opportunities to win a national title don't come around often. Take a moment and realize how lucky you are as a fan to follow such a great program and a great team.
From the Duke coaches to the players, there is nothing but solid character on the 2009-10 Blue Devils team and it's time to recognize and cherish that. Just ask UNC fans who are coming off a title how long ago that seems now? If it happens, enjoy it, savor it, live it.
Before you begin to worry if Kyle Singler will return or when the next recruit will commit, live in the here and now. Immerse yourself in the here and now and enjoy rooting for the team everybody in the nation will be watching this evening.
Make no mistake, that the majority of fans out there would kill to have a program like Duke's, so recognize how lucky and blessed you are to have them as your team.
It's been an amazing season and that season may well end in a fourth National Championship and how amazing is that? I mean, who thought this would happen after Gerald Henderson left or Elliot Williams transferred?
This Duke team has succeeded at meeting every goal it set forth to date and you will never see a more likable and grounded roster of kids than this seasons. No matter what they have been faced with, they have met the challenge with success.
Bozo media types are saying Duke had an easy road. Well, they beat the PAC 10 Champions, the Big 10 Champions and the Big East Champions to get here and the Horizon Champions may be added to the list in about seven hours.
But don't get caught up in all the hate and realize that a lot of it is fabricated to begin with. Worry instead if Duke will defeat a Butler team that is laying a trap. But know your Blue Devils will show up and I mean they will be ready.
I have a good feeling that Duke will be atop the world by midnight, but should they slip, these guys are still champions. It is rare to have senior leadership like Brian Zoubek, Lance Thomas and Jon Scheyer and they should be cuddled by the fan base.
If Kyle Singler goes pro, wish him the best for he will have left you with something special. What I am saying is that nothing should take away from the joy that only two teams will experience when the ball tips at 9:21 tonight and no I am not saying Kyle is gone, so relax and don't go there.
Oh, and make sure you greet these Blue Devils in a big way when they return. And do me a favor Blue Devil Nation, cheer hard for me as I will still be on the road back to Durham. In fact, a video of the return would be appreciated or a tape of any local coverage of the event.
It's been one heck of a ride and it's one that nobody should want to end.
BDN Previews the National Championship – Duke [34-5] vs Butler [33-4]
INDIANAPOLIS - The Duke Blue Devils will take on the Butler Bulldogs in a game that tips at 9:21 eastern and the winner will be the 2010 National Champion.
Butler was ranked 11th in the pre season and they are riding a 25 game winning streak. They have not only defeated three top ten teams in Syracuse, Kansas State and Michigan State, but they held them all to less than 60 points. In short, these Bull Dogs live up to their name for they are one tough bunch of kids.
Both Duke and Butler covet defense and that alone should make for a grinding game while they feel each other out. Butler has held 12 of their last 13 opponents under 60, while Duke is allowing just 61 points per game.
Butler had 12 steals vs Michigan State and while they do not play the passing lanes as you might think, they make it difficult when the ball goes in the baseline with hands reaching. Butler has 118 wins in four seasons 33-4 and their head coach Brad Stevens is a hot commodity.
Butler prefers to keep a game in the sixties and that strategy has been effective for them. They are not particularly tall inside, so look for Duke to try to work it inside - out to create shots.
The Bulldogs best player is Gordon Hayward [6-9 soph, 15.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg] who has led his team in scoring 17 times this season17 times this season. He is a versatile player cut out in the mold of inside-out Duke players past.
Matt Howard [6-8 soph, 11.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg] has scored in double figure 47 times in his career and he anchors the front court. Howard butted heads late in the Michigan State win but he is expected to go.
Another key player for the Bulldogs is Shelvin Mack [6-3 soph, 14.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg]. Mack is the motor of this team and Duke will need to keep him in their sights all night long.
Ronald Nored [6-0 soph, 6.0 ppg] starts as does Willie Veasley [6-3, senior, 10.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg]. Both of these guys are good team players and both can drop it in if left open. Veasley is the veteran leader of a young team whose best players are sophomores.
Make no mistake, all of Indianapolis is behind Butler who as you know now is just six miles down the road from Lucas Oil Arena. Many are making them out to be Cinderella, but their program has been consistent.
As for mutual opponents, Butler lost to Georgetown 72-65 in one of their 4 losses. The Hoyas handed Duke their second worst loss of the season in an 89-77 win. Butler lost to Clemson by 1 point in November while Duke holds two double figure wins over the Tigers.
Butler holds wins over Northwestern, UCLA, Xavier, UTEP, Syracuse, Kansas State and Michigan State and that alone should tell you they can indeed keep the title in Indianpolis.
The Blue Devils are led by their big three of Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler. It will be hard to deny all three of these guys and if all are on their game as was the case in the win over West Virginia they should find victory lane.
But it is Duke's senior leadership which has been at the core of Duke's success as well. The aforementioned Scheyer, hopes to remain hot from the field, while Lance Thomas will do all the dirty work which does not show up in the box score.
The emergence of Brian Zoubek is who many point to as the real reason Duke is in the title game has been a rebounding machine down the stretch and he will cause some match up problems inside for Butler. If Zoubs controls the glass, Duke will benefit greatly.
It's only appropriate that these two teams are facing each other for they have earned the right to be here. And while Brad Stevens coaching job has been fabulous for Butler this season, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, known as Coach K, who in my opinion has had his best season ever at the helm.
Keys to a Duke win 1) Shoot well from the field, 2) Push it inside in an effort to create some foul trouble which will get them to the line, 3) Play within your role - Duke was unselfish and patient on the offensive end against West Virginia and it will be important for this to continue, 4) Rotate the bigs to keep the pressure on and this should wear Butler down. Duke has been doing this all season, 5) Run when the opportunity is there. Quick or easy baskets allows Duke to take Butler out of their comfort zone and if they are forced to play from behind, that works in Duke's favor. In short, get out to a good start.
The fact that Duke has been here before should help, but I expect a game Butler team to give Duke all they want. In the end, I see Duke winning their 4th national title under Krzyzewski. Duke's core is seniors while Butler's best players are sophomores and this is what keeps jumping out for me.
The pick here is Duke 74 Butler 61.
Nate James and Chris Carrawell talk being in the title game and their upcoming basketball camp
INDIANAPOLIS - Nate James and Chris Carawell have been great friends for a long time and each of them play roles on this seasons Duke Basketball team. With the championship game looming tomorrow, the duo chatted up BDN about Butler and their upcoming basketball camp. Speaking of the camp, if you are a local Durham or surrounding area resident, look into the opportunity. They give you their contact information at the end of the recording. Look for more BDN exclusives today and tomorrow as we pump out information from the Final Four in Indy.
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Chris Collins talks Scheyer, Butler and not wanting the season to end
INDIANAPOLIS - Duke Assistant Coach Chris Collins talks about recruiting Jon Scheyer and his days at Duke, playing for the national title, what Butler is all about and his coaching future with BDN.
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