Duke Going For Their Fourth Straight Win As They Host Pittsburgh

Earlier this month Duke and Pittsburgh met on the hardwood at the Petersen Event Center for the first time this season and Duke won that game now they're  changing venues as Pittsburgh will visit Durham for the rematch on Saturday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium where Duke will be going for their fifth  straight win.

No.5 Duke, which has won three straight and five of six, is back home Saturday to welcome Pitt. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211693384&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils are coming off Monday’s 83-75 win at No. 25 Miami in which Duke overcame a pair of 13-point second-half deficits to improve to 4-0 versus Top 25 teams this season. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211693384&DB_OEM_ID=4200

• Duke is the only team ranked among the NCAA’s top 10 in scoring (92.7; 1st), rebounds (44.1; 1st) and assists (19.9; 3rd). The Blue Devils are also second nationally in rebound margin (+11.3), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.66) and sixth in field goal pct. (.513).
• Marvin Bagley III leads the ACC in scoring (22.0) and rebounding (11.7) and is second in the NCAA in double-doubles (15). Trevon Duval leads the ACC in assists (6.33) while Grayson Allen is third in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.67).
• Pitt has an 8-11 overall record and has lost its first six ACC contests.
• The Panthers have used 14 different starting lineups this season, the most in the NCAA. Freshmen have combined to make 57 starts on the year.
• Parker Stewart is averaging a team-high 12.3 points per game, while going 18-of-37 (.486) from beyond the three-point arc in conference play.
• Duke is 10-7 all-time versus Pitt, which includes a 4-1 mark since the Panthers entered the ACC in the 2013-14 season.
• The last meeting between the teams came just ten days ago as six Blue Devils scored in double figures as Duke left the Steel City with an 87-52 win. Bagley III led Duke with 16 points and pulled down 15 rebounds for his then-13th double-double. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211693384&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke comes into their game with Pittsburgh with a record of 16-2 while they're 4-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726  haven won their last outing on Monday on the road at Miami.

Gary Trent Jr. scored a season-high 30 points and No. 5-ranked Duke needed less than three minutes to erase a 13-point second-half deficit, scoring 18 consecutive points to overtake No. 25 Miami 83-75 on Monday night. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

The Blue Devils scored 15 points in only six possessions to rally, and the comeback included a trio of 3-pointers by Trent. He shot 9 for 14, including 6 for 9 from beyond the arc. "according tohttp://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Duke (16-2, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) extended its winning streak against ranked teams to seven games, including four this season. Miami (13-4, 2-3) lost at home for the first time this season. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Marvin Bagley III had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Devils, who shot 55 percent and won despite tying a season high with 19 turnovers. They committed none in the final 10 minutes as they rallied. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764 "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

The sellout crowd included 37 NBA scouts, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez. It also included Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, back on the bench after missing Saturday's 89-71 victory over Wake Forest because of a virus. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Krzyzewski's sport coat came off when the Hurricanes forced three turnovers during a 16-0 run that put them up 56-44. Duke went nearly eight minutes without a point, and Bagley missed four free throws during the drought. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Lonnie Walker IV finished with 19 points for Miami. Dewan Huell added 18 points and 13 rebounds, but standout Miami guard Bruce Brown was held scoreless for the first 18 minutes and finished with seven points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Smothering defense helped the Hurricanes outscore Duke 31-6 on fast-break points. They led 66-53 with eight minutes left, but the Blue Devils went on a 9-0 run on their next three possessions. Trent sank consecutive 3-pointers, and Bagley's three-point play made it 66-62. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Wendell Carter drove for a basket to tie it at 66, and Trevon Duval's driving layup on Duke's next possession put them ahead with 4:40 left. The Blue Devils' lead reached 71-66 before Brown ended Miami's drought with a three-point play. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Trent's final 3-pointer helped seal the win, putting Duke up 76-70 with 1:15 to go. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Grayson Allen made a backcourt steal and fed Trent for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half and give Duke a 42-40 lead."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

BIG PICTURE

Duke came into the game second in the nation in scoring at 93.2 points per game, and Miami was fifth in scoring defense at 60.7 points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

TRAINER'S ROOM

The Blue Devils played their third consecutive game without injured center Marques Bolden (sprained knee) and forward Javin DeLaurier (hamstring). "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Bagley gave Duke fans a scare when he left the game holding his right wrist in the early going, but he soon returned."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211692764

Pittsburgh comes into their game with Duke with a record of 8-11  while they're  0-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to  http://pittsburghpanthers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball haven lost their last game at Syracuse.

 Frank Howard had 18 points, seven rebounds and five steals and Syracuse snapped a four-game losing streak, defeating Pittsburgh 59-45 Tuesday night. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

With the win the Orange (13-6, 2-4 ACC) averted the first five-game losing streak in coach Jim Boeheim's 42-year tenure. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

Tyus Battle, who scored just four first-half points for Syracuse, had 15. Oshae Brissett added 10. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

Freshman Parker Stewart, who entered the game with a 7.3 scoring average, tallied a career-high 23 points for Pitt (8-11, 0-6) on 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. Kene Chukwuka had seven and Terrell Brown added six. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

Clinging to a 31-29 lead with nearly 17 minutes to go, Syracuse went on a 22-8 run to extend to a 53-37 lead. Howard and Battle led the Orange down the stretch, scoring 10 and seven points, respectively. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

Syracuse closed the first half on an 8-0 run, fueled by Battle's four points to take a 27-22 lead at intermission. Pitt went without a field goal for more than seven minutes, but stayed close thanks to Stewart, who nearly doubled his season average of 7.3 points a game with 12 points - two short of his career high - on 4 of 7 3-pointers. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

Frank Howard led the Orange with eight first-half points. Battle shot just 2 of 8 from the field. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

BIG PICTURE:

Pitt might have found a 3-point shooting gem in Stewart."according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

Syracuse recorded a much-needed win and now has an extended break to savor the victory. The Orange has lots of work to do, though, to get back to .500 in the league. "according to http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/16/mens-basketball-parker-posts-career-high-as-pitt-falls-to-syracuse.aspx?path=mbball

Tip-off is set for 4:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726