Duke Returns To Durham For Two -Game Home Stand Starting With Louisville

After going on the road over the weekend and getting a win in South Carolina over Clemson Duke returns to Durham to host Louisville Wednesday night who is led by David Padgett to begin a two game home stand.

David Padgett's coaching staff includes former Duke point guard Greg Paulus who played for head coach Mike Krzyzewski from 2006-2009. "according to http://gocards.com/coaches.aspx?rc=571&path=mbball and who was teammates with  Duke assistant coach Jon Scheyer and Duke special assistant Nolan Smith.

Duke comes into their game with Louisville on a three game winning streak and has  record of 22-5 while they're 10-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/conferences/standings/_/id/2/acc-conference

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has gotten more than he's expected out of the Blue Devils the past couple of weeks with Marvin Bagley III out. And he's certain it will pay dividends down the stretch once Duke's leading scorer and rebounder returns."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

Gary Trent, Jr. hit three foul shots with 1:31 left to put No. 12 Duke ahead for good, and the Blue Devils won their third straight with Bagley on the sidelines, 66-57 over Clemson on Sunday. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

"For us, that's three wins with arguably as talented a kid as there is in the country out," Kzyzewski said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

Krzyzewski said Bagley's right knee sprain is improving. The coach said it's unsure when Bagley will be back, but "it'll be soon." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

That won't be good news for Duke's opponents down the stretch, especially if the Blue Devils show the toughness they displayed at Clemson."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

The Blue Devils gave up all of their 10-point lead over a six-minute stretch when the Tigers tied it at 57 on David Skara's jumper. That's when Trent was off the mark on his 3 from the right corner, but got fouled by Clemson reserve Scott Spencer."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

Trent's first shot rattled around before falling through and he swished the next two for Duke (22-5, 10-4 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Blue Devils outscored the Tigers 9-0 the final 90 seconds."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

Wendell Carter Jr. followed Trent's foul shots with an inside bucket, and the Tigers (20-6, 9-5) could not respond in losing for the first time at home this season."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

"Some of these young guys grew up a little bit today," Kzyzewski said.

Grayson Allen had 19 points for Duke, all but two in the opening half. Carter had 15 points and 10 rebounds while Trevon Duval had 12 and Trent scored 11."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

"We're becoming a team," Allen said. "We're coming together." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

Marcquise Reed and Elijah Thomas led Clemson with 13 points apiece. Thomas also had 15 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the year. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

The Tigers were also without one of their starters in point guard Shelton Mitchell, who suffered a concussion in a loss to Florida State this past Wednesday night. Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Mitchell's absence might have disrupted the team's rhythm, but not enough that the starting backcourt in Reed and Gabe DeVoe should have gone a combined 4 of 24 shooting. Their 16 points combined were 13 fewer than their average this season."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

"Those nights happen," Brownell said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

It was the first time the Tigers had lost consecutive games this season.

BIG PICTURE

Duke: The Blue Devils struggled to shoot against Clemson's defense, which ranks fifth in the ACC. But Duke made hay at the foul line, making 11 of 12 free throws in the opening half to keep in front. Without Bagley, Allen took charge early with 17 points off two 3-pointers and keyed the Blue Devils' defense with two steals. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

Clemson: The Tigers were out of sync early on without Mitchell, who had started all 25 games at point guard before Sunday. Clemson brought the ball up gradually with long, cross-court passes before Duke got wise and picked off several passes for easy baskets. The Tigers will have to devise a better plan if they hope to finish off a strong season with success. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

THREE-POINT RUN DONE

Clemson had a run of five straight games with 10 or more 3-pointers end against Duke on Sunday. The Tigers went just 5 of 20 from behind the arc with two of their leading outside shooters, Marcquise Reed and Gabe DeVoe, going 2 of 14. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

AGGRESSIVE GRAYSON

Allen has stepped up his game since Bagley's injury. Allen combined for 39 points in the four games before Bagley got hurt. He's averaged 22 points in Duke's past three contests. Allen also had four assists and four of Duke's 10 steals against Clemson. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211701222

Louisville meanwhile is coming off a home loss at the KFC Yum Center Saturday  to Duke's rival North Carolina who is eight miles down the road in Chapel Hill.

Joel Berry scored 23 points, Luke Maye had 13 rebounds and No. 14 North Carolina dominated the boards and second-chance points to beat Louisville 93-76 Saturday night for its fifth consecutive victory. "according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-basketball-no-14-north-carolina-tops-louisville-93-76.aspx

The Tar Heels (21-7, 10-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored 10 straight points for a 12-3 lead before warming up from long range to eventually build a 19-point cushion before withstanding several Louisville rallies. UNC made eight from behind the arc in the first half alone and 12 of 27 overall in a fast pace that Louisville struggled to keep up with."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-basketball-no-14-north-carolina-tops-louisville-93-76.aspx

Maye's rebounding offset a slow shooting start and helped the Tar Heels win the glass 44-32 and frequently get timely offensive boards to outscore the Cardinals 22-6 in second-chance points."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-basketball-no-14-north-carolina-tops-louisville-93-76.aspx

Theo Pinson and Maye each had 19 points, Cameron Johnson 12 and Kenny Williams 11 as North Carolina won its first visit to Louisville in five tries."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-basketball-no-14-north-carolina-tops-louisville-93-76.aspx

Louisville (18-9, 8-6) got within single digits several times but no closer than seven in having its two-game winning streak end. Deng Adel  returned from a two-game absence with an ankle injury to score 20 points and Ray Spalding  18 with 12 rebounds."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-basketball-no-14-north-carolina-tops-louisville-93-76.aspx

BIG PICTURE

North Carolina: The Tar Heels finally won in Louisville on their fifth try by being in the right place at the right time throughout. Every time Louisville seemed intent on making it a game, they'd answer with a 3 or came up with a rebound and putback to stay safely ahead. They shot 48 percent and broke 90 points for the third time in their current streak."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-basketball-no-14-north-carolina-tops-louisville-93-76.aspx

Louisville: The Cardinals' bench dominated 35-9 thanks to Adel, who came off the bench to make 8 of 12 from the field. But they couldn't stop Carolina from getting multiple chances and lost the paint battle 42-38. Most importantly, they missed another chance to get their signature win they've sought all season. "according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-basketball-no-14-north-carolina-tops-louisville-93-76.aspx

Tip-off is set for 9:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726