Duke, ACC Tournament Champions To Take On Sun Belt Champions Troy Friday At The NCAA Tournament
Things weren't clicking or going so well for Duke in the regular season but when postseason play started they seem to have found their groove at the right time heading into the NCAA Tournament against Troy on Friday in Greenville South Carolina.
Duke has a record of 27-8 and is coming off winning four games in four days at the ACC Tournament and being crowned ACC Champions after defeating Notre Dame by a score of 75-69. Impressive right?
Freshman Jayson Tatum led the charge in the final three minutes making plays all over the floor that included blocking Steve Vasturia's drive to the hoop and then went coast to coast for a layup to make it 68-65 with 1:33 left."I thought, `What are you doing?" Krzyzewski said about Tatum taking off with the ball. "Yes! You did it. How the hell did you do that?' I thought it gave everyone energy. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211517766
On the night Jayson Tatum scored 19 points to finish his first and probably his only ACC Tournament. Luke Kennard who was named the most valuable player of the ACC Tournament finished with 16 points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=21151776
Duke came from double digits down in the second half to beat both No. 10 Louisville and No. 6 North Carolina to get to the finals at Barclays Center and then came from eight back with 11:35 left to defeat the Irish. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211517766 otr
Troy meanwhile has a record of 22-14 and is coming off 59 -53 win over Texas State where they not only clinched the Sun Belt Championship but only their second NCAA Tournament bid since they have existed. "according to http://www.troytrojans.com/news/2017/3/12/basketball-m-troy-tops-texas-state-59-53-to-clinch-sun-belt-championship-advance-to-ncaa-tournament.aspx
After going into halftime leading 27-21, the Trojans 22-14 did not trail at any moment in the second half. The last time Troy was down was at the 10:06 mark of the first half.
Despite the strong showing, the outcome was far from decided after a free throw by Nijal Pearson got Texas State (20-13) within range of taking back the lead in the final two minutes.
That would never come to fruition as the duo of Wesley Person and Jordon Varnado as they have done all tournament long—closed out the game on an 8-3 run to capture the championship. "according to http://www.troytrojans.com/news/2017/3/12/basketball-m-troy-tops-texas-state-59-53-to-clinch-sun-belt-championship-advance-to-ncaa-tournament.aspx
Just 14 seconds after the free throw cut Troy's lead to one, Varnado bullied his way into the paint to get a layup. On the following possession, Troy was able to force a turnover from Pearson that allowed the Trojans to burn nearly 30 seconds on the clock. "according tohttp://www.troytrojans.com/news/2017/3/12/basketball-m-troy-tops-texas-state-59-53-to-clinch-sun-belt-championship-advance-to-ncaa-tournament.aspx
Texas State, which held Troy to two of the three lowest scoring outputs on the season, again turned the ball back over to the Trojans off an Immanuel King offensive foul with 23 seconds remaining. " According to http://www.troytrojans.com/news/2017/3/12/basketball-m-troy-tops-texas-state-59-53-to-clinch-sun-belt-championship-advance-to-ncaa-tournament.aspx
The Bobcats were forced to immediately foul, which sent Varnado to free-throw line where he calmly sank both shots. A long 3-point shot by Ojai Black was off the mark, Varnado was fouled again and he connected on two more free throws to put Troy up 57-53 with eight seconds left. "according to http://www.troytrojans.com/news/2017/3/12/basketball-m-troy-tops-texas-state-59-53-to-clinch-sun-belt-championship-advance-to-ncaa-tournament.aspx
Kavin Gilder-Tilbury, who was the leading scorer in the game with 19 points, hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left, but it would be to no avail as Person scored the game's final points on two free throws with four seconds remaining. "according to http://www.troytrojans.com/news/2017/3/12/basketball-m-troy-tops-texas-state-59-53-to-clinch-sun-belt-championship-advance-to-ncaa-tournament.aspx
Tip-off is set for 7:20pm. The game will be televised on TBS. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=1845&SPSID=22726&DB_OEM_ID=4200