Aiming to increase their successful streak to 6 video games and to proceed their dominance over Georgia Tech, No. 5 Duke travels to Atlanta on Saturday to play its second Atlantic Coast Convention contest.
Duke (9-2, 1-0 ACC) hasn’t misplaced since Nov. 26, when it fell to Kansas 75-72 in Las Vegas. The Blue Devils are 35-5 in opposition to the Yellow Jackets since 2000, however fell 72-68 at Georgia Tech final December.
Led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, Duke remains to be looking for its footing on the offensive finish of the court docket. The Blue Devils picked up a straightforward 68-47 dwelling win over George Mason on Tuesday, regardless of capturing 37.5 p.c from the sector and 33.3 p.c on 3-pointers.
Flagg, who paces the workforce with 16.6 factors and 9.0 rebounds per recreation, went for twenty-four factors, 9 boards and 4 assists in opposition to George Mason, whereas persevering with to indicate to his all-around recreation.
“I beloved how aggressive he was,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. “It modifications the entire dynamic of our workforce when he is seeking to assault. The sweetness with him is a few nights, it’s going to be him taking 20 pictures and that is nice. Different nights it may be him getting 10 assists, which goes to occur.
“I feel he is due for a triple-double. I feel he is due for a 30-plus level recreation.”
Following Flagg, fellow freshman Kon Knueppel averages 11.6 factors per recreation, whereas junior Tyrese Proctor provides 11.4.
Whereas Duke’s offense has been regular sufficient, it’s the protection that is carried a lot of the load this 12 months. The Blue Devils have allowed fewer than 50 factors in consecutive video games, reducing their common factors allowed mark to 58.7 — eighth finest within the nation.
Duke vies to proceed that development on Saturday, as Georgia Tech continues to seek for its first energy convention win.
The Yellow Jackets (5-6, 0-1) have wins over West Georgia, Texas Southern, Charleston Southern, Central Arkansas and most just lately UMBC, however have not fared nicely in opposition to main groups, dropping every by a mean of 12 factors.
Coach Damon Stoudamire’s group did halt its three-game dropping streak Wednesday, when it topped UMBC 91-82 at dwelling. Georgia Tech noticed its 22-point lead shrink to 6 earlier than it secured the victory, in additional proof of a troubling development this season.
“To me, there isn’t any query we are able to play with Duke, however can we beat them, can we end the sport?” Stoudamire mentioned. “To beat a workforce like Duke, you have to play for 40 minutes. You possibly can’t have lulls within the recreation, so that is what I wish to see.”
Lance Terry’s 15.5 factors per recreation lead Georgia Tech, adopted by Baye Ndongo’s 12.9 and Naithan George’s 11.0. The Yellow Jackets will search for back-to-back dwelling wins in opposition to Duke for the primary time since 1988-89.
–Area Degree Media