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BASKETBALL

Top Ranked Duke Visits Indiana For The ACC/ Big Ten Challenge

Duke who is ranked number one and who has a record of 8-0 will visit Indiana for the ACC / Big Ten Challenge Wednesday.

Capping a grueling NBA-like schedule to open the season, Duke plays its ninth game in the first 20 days on Wednesday at Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687544&DB_OEM_ID=4200

  • Head coach Mike Krzyzewski is 202-29 (.874) when coaching a No. 1-ranked Duke team. The 231 games when coaching at No. 1 are three more than John Wooden (228) for the most in NCAA history.
  • Freshman Marvin Bagley III is both the ACC Player and Rookie of the Week for the second time. Bagley leads the ACC in scoring (22.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.3 rpg).
  • Bagley, who is tied for the NCAA lead with six double-doubles, is the first player in Duke history with consecutive games of 30+ points and 15+ rebounds.
  • The Blue Devils are the only team with two wins over top-10 teams this season, having already defeated No. 2 Michigan State and No. 7 Florida.
  • Indiana has started its season 4-2 with its losses coming to in-state rival Indiana State and No. 22 Seton Hall. The Hoosiers have won their last three games and are 4-1 at home.
  • Senior guard Robert Johnson leads Indiana in scoring (13.7 ppg) while his classmate Freddie McSwain, Jr., is pulling down a team-high six rebounds per game.
  • Duke and Indiana have met eight times in their history, including twice in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The two programs last met in December 2015 when Brandon Ingram’s 24 points led Duke to a 94-74 victory in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Overall, Duke is 16-2 in the 18-year history of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, including 8-2 away from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils have won their last five games in the event. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687544&DB_OEM_ID=4200

As for Duke's last game, they came back to beat Florida to win the Phil Knight Invitational Sunday in Portland Oregon.

Marvin Bagley had 30 points and 15 rebounds, and No. 1 Duke rallied late to beat No. 7 Florida 87-84 on Sunday night for the Motion Bracket championship at the Phil Knight Invitational tournament. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Gary Trent Jr., who had a pair of free throws that pulled the Blue Devils in front and a key steal in the final moments, finished with 15 points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Bagley, a 6-foot-11 freshman, has six double-doubles in eight games this season for Duke (8-0). He was named the bracket's Most Valuable Player. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

KeVaughn Allen had 17 points for Florida (5-1). Jalen Hudson added 24 points and 10 rebounds."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Florida led by as many as 17 points midway through the second half. Duke closed within 78-70 on consecutive jumpers from Wendell Carter Jr. and a pair of free throws from Bagley. "according tohttp://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Grayson Allen's 3-pointer got Duke within 82-79 with 3:07 left, putting the Blue Devils fans on their feet. Bagley's layup closed the gap to 84-83 and Trent made free throws to put Duke in front 85-84 with 1:12 left. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Hudson missed a free throw to tie it before Trent's steal with 12 seconds left. Trent made clutch free throws for the final margin. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The teams were among the 16 Nike teams that took part in the three-day tournament, dubbed the PK80, that started on Thanksgiving and took a hiatus Saturday for college football. Fourth-ranked Michigan State beat defending NCAA champion North Carolina 63-45 earlier in the evening in the Victory Bracket. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The event honored Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Both Florida and Duke were coming off hard-fought overtime victories. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Gators defeated No. 7 Gonzaga 111-105 in double overtime on Friday night to advance. Hudson had a career-high 35 points, 31 of them coming in the second half. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Florida opened the tournament with a 108-87 victory over Stanford."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The five-time NCAA champion Blue Devils defeated Texas 85-78 in overtime on Friday, led by Bagley with 34 points and 15 rebounds. Duke opened the tournament with a 99-81 victory over Portland State on Thanksgiving. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Egor Koulechov, a graduate transfer from Rice, hit a 3-pointer that put the Gators up 16-4 early. KeVaughn Allen added a layup to extend it. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Gorjok Gak's dunk pushed Florida's lead to 30-19 at the midpoint of the first half, but Bagley answered with a 3-pointer on the other end. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke got within 33-31 after Trent's 3-pointer and Grayson Allen made consecutive 3-pointers to give the Blue Devils a 42-37 lead with 4:20 left in the half, capping a 22-5 run. The Gators went back ahead a 49-48 on Chris Chiozza's layup, and ended the half on a 14-2 run to lead 53-49 at the break. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Bagley led all scorers with 18 points and eight rebounds at the half. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Florida's momentum continued in the second half, opening with an 8-2 run to go up 61-51. Hudson's layup capped an 11-0 run that extended the Gators' lead to 72-57. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The teams last played on Dec. 6, 2016, in the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden, with Duke coming out on top 84-74. Duke leads the all-time series 13-4. "according http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Gators have defeated a top-ranked team twice in the team history. Florida beat then-No. 1 Duke in the 2000 Sweet 16, and then No. 1 Ohio State for the 2007 NCAA Tournament championship. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

BIG PICTURE

Duke: Wendell Carter had four double-doubles through the first eight games, but he picked up three fouled early against Florida. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Florida: Hudson is a transfer from Virginia Tech. With his 13th point of the night, KeVaughn Allen reached 1,000 for his career."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

UNCLE PHIL: Knight was presented with a special commemorative PK80 trophy during a break in the first half, earning a standing ovation from the crowd at the Moda Center. Nike's corporate headquarters are in Beaverton, just west of Portland. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211687316&DB_OEM_ID=4200

As for Indiana's last game they beat Eastern Michigan.

One could see it. Even hear it. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Indiana's Juwan Morgan dived to the floor, skin squealing, to secure a loose ball and draw a foul on Eastern Michigan's Paul Jackson with 6:20 left in the first half. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

And it was perhaps music to coach Archie Miller's ears. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

By then it was already apparent the Hoosiers were hustling, and that characterized a convincing 87-67 win Friday evening over the previously unbeaten Eagles."according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"Juwan had great effort there at times," coach Archie Miller, who had previously wanted to see more of that sort of thing from his club, said post-game. "I think Josh Newkirk made one of the great run-down blocks … we had a lot of hard plays guys were making." "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

EMU (4-1) made a lot of hard shots to stay close for a while. The Eagles were within 42-37 at halftime, having shot 7 of 11 from 3-point range, including 4 of 6 sniping from 6-foot-9 junior Elijah Minnie. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

But the host Hoosiers then shot a sparkling .593 after intermission (burying 5 of 7 3s in the process) and pulled away stylishly down the stretch."according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

IU got a terrific showing from senior guards Newkirk and Robert Johnson, who combined for 35 points and 9 of 12 3-point shooting. And that came against an active and extended EMU zone that Miller had described as "the second-best I've seen" (behind only Syracuse's renowned 2-3.) "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Which makes sense, given that EMU coach Rob Murphy was a Syracuse assistant under Jim Boeheim through 2011. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"One-day prep for Eastern Michigan is hard," Miller said, alluding to IU having only Thanksgiving Day between Friday's test and Wednesday's win over South Florida. "They play a very unique zone defense, and until you see them up close you don't really realize how long and how big they are. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"And playing against them in the past, I knew this was going to be a challenging game, especially on one day." "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

But the Hoosiers showed immediate signs they were ready to unlock the zone. "according tohttp://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

The first possession was textbook execution. The Hoosiers had crisp perimeter ball movement before entering into the lane to De'Ron Davis. His quick pass found Juwan Morgan, who dunked while drawing a foul, leading to a 3-point play. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Morgan returned the favor a couple of possessions later with an interior pass for a Davis bucket to make it 5-0. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"Yeah, we always tell them to look for your buddy (inside)," Miller said. "There is usually going to be one opposite (the ball) or one in the middle, one under or one over. And first look on any catch in the paint is obviously your buddy." "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

But with Minnie pouring in bombs, the first half produced three lead-changes and three ties before a Davis jump-hook gave IU the lead back – for good, as it turned out – at 19-18 at the 9:05 mark. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

The Hoosiers then got a big lift, spiritually and tangibly, as senior Collin Hartman made his first appearance since the Nov. 5 exhibition game against the University of Indianapolis.

It took Hartman precisely 30 seconds to make his presence felt, burying a 3 from the right baseline to prompt his second standing ovation within that shot span. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Asked what it meant to have Hartman back on the court, even for a relatively brief six minutes, Newkirk said: "It meant a lot. His spark, his energy, all that definitely helped us out … he has a lot of experience. He brings a lot of value to the team. He knocks down the open shots. He plays great defense." "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Hartman was one of five different Hoosiers to hit 3s before halftime. And IU maintained a lead throughout the second half, but EMU was within 49-47 with 14:32 to play before the Hoosiers headed off on a decisive 19-3 run fueled by hustle plays and hot shooting. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

The run was ignited by seven IU points in 38 seconds, started by a Freddie McSwain tip-in and a Newkirk 3, then highlighted by a tandem of freshmen combining for a play that got Assembly Hall rocking. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball
 
Miller had appealed to the crowd to get up for a defensive stop and, right on cue, Justin Smith and Aljami Durham came up with a steal atop the key. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

The ball ping-ponged a bit, with Smith having to tap it behind his back to Durham, who then flipped a pass forward. Smith somehow located the ball, snagged it and delivered a two-hand thunder dunk that made it 56-47 and prompted an EMU timeout with 13:27 left – to no avail."according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball
 
"Once they got up nine, they started playing a little more comfortable," Murphy said of the Hoosiers. "We didn't keep the ball out of the inside and (then) the kicked it out. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"Newkirk did an unbelievable job of knocking down shots and getting the ball where it needed to be. He had a great floor game … I thought, as a unit, they all played pretty well together. I like Johnson. He stepped up and hit some 3s. I thought Davis was huge in size, sealing consistently … but I thought Newkirk was the catalyst." "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Another Newkirk trey at 11:30 pushed the lead to double-digits at 61-50, and the Hoosiers were not to be headed, pushing the lead to 68-50 before the Eagles finally got on the board again via a goal-tending call at the 8:15 mark. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball
 
The closest the Eagles got thereafter was 73-60 with 5:15 left, but Johnson then posted a personal 7-0 run to end any thought of a rally. Johnson led the Hoosier scoring with 18 points and joined Newkirk in stepping up to make senior-savvy plays and big shots all day. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball
 
But they were hardly alone in staying proactive. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Just a few examples of Hoosier hustle: "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Freshman guard Aljami Durham – who has made just two turnovers through 167 minutes of play in his debut season -- saved a long rebound headed out-of-bounds off an Eagle player to save a possession with 4:42 left in the first half. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Josh McRoberts, one of several Hoosiers to provide a spark off the bench, gave maximum effort to follow his own miss for his first bucket of the season with 9:30 to play. Then he did it again less than two minutes later. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

When Durham missed the front-end of a bonus free throw opportunity at the 7:24 mark, Morgan got skinny along the baseline to corral the rebound. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Loose balls were mostly claimed by the home team. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Part of that probably stems from comfort level. The Hoosiers look less hesitant and more aggressive six games into Miller's first season in Bloomington. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"Definitely, everybody is getting comfortable with the offensive style, the defensive schemes," Newkirk said. "We've just been practicing a lot. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"I think everybody is feeling more comfortable understanding that we're all helping each other. I think it's coming along." "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Miller was appreciative. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"Good win for our team," Miller adjudged. "… I thought our staff and our team really worked hard yesterday to identify a couple of real key concepts to work against the zone, which was clearly to establish the ball getting inside and working through the paint. "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

"And I think that's a big reason why we had only eight turnovers. And also think the shot selection, being able to play inside the zone and out was pretty good. Guys got good looks and were able to knock them down for really the first time -- watching Josh and Rob make some shots, it felt a little different out there for us." "according to http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/11/24/mens-basketball-hoosiers-take-down-eastern-michigan-87-67.aspx?path=mbball

Now that the Hoosiers have concluded their four-game Hoosier Tip-Off Classic Play, the schedule will feel a little different, too.
 

Tip-off is set for 9:30pm. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726