As anticipated, No. 4 Duke basketball got here away with a blowout 72-46 win at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night time in opposition to the Incarnate Phrase Cardinals. Though the ultimate rating strongly suggests a one-sided affair, it was not the case in all the contest. The Cardinals stubbornly saved up with Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils within the early goings and have been even forward by simply seven factors on the finish of the primary half.
Within the first 20 minutes of the showdown, the Blue Devils shot simply 10-for-30 from the sphere and hit simply two of their 13 makes an attempt from behind the arc. Duke basketball additionally turned the ball over seven occasions throughout that stretch. If not for Incarnate Phrase additionally having a brutal offense within the first half — shot simply 27 FG% — the halftime rating would have been extra unfavorable for the Blue Devils.
Happily for the Blue Devils, they have been in a position to flip issues round within the second half, the place they outscored the Cardinals, 44-25.
Regardless of the gradual begin, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer applauded the resiliency of the Blue Devils.
“I believed our guys did a great job of enjoying by not hitting photographs & not essentially having our greatest stuff tonight, however that’s going to occur typically,” Scheyer mentioned after the sport, per David Shumate. “I believed our guys refocused within the 2nd half & broke it open.”
Duke basketball overcomes gradual begin to demolish Incarnate Phrase
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Freshman heart Khaman Maluach led the Blue Devils with 17 factors, together with 12 within the first half, whereas the always-dependable Isaiah Evans got here off the bench and fired 14 factors. As for star freshman Cooper Flagg, it was not a lot of an evening for him, as he solely had six factors on 2-for-8 capturing from the ground, although, he had eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 22 minutes. Additionally giving Duke an enormous raise was its protection. The Blue Devils held the Cardinals to only 32.1 subject purpose proportion.
Duke’s protection has confirmed itself to be a terrific asset of the crew, because the Blue Devils are tops within the nation with an adjusted defensive ranking of 88.7 and eighth general with a defensive efficient subject purpose proportion of 42.4, per KenPom.
The Blue Devils, who now sport an 8-2 general file, will take a protracted relaxation earlier than getting again to motion on Dec. 17 versus the George Mason Patriots in Durham, North Carolina.