Duke Looks To Bounce Back As They Host North Carolina

Their last time out Duke lost in the final seconds in Blacksburg to Virginia Tech on Monday night.

Saturday night Duke will not only look to bounce back but will look to avenge the loss they suffered in Chapel Hill to North Carolina twenty two days ago on February 8th 2018 as they host their tobacco road rival that is eight miles down the road on senior night. 

Duke comes into their game with North Carolina with a record of 24-6 and 12-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/2 after their loss in Blacksburg. 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker's emotions changed in a heartbeat -- not once, but twice. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The freshman guard at Virginia Tech took what he thought would be the game-winning shot. Then he saw it sail over the rim entirely. Then he saw teammate Chris Clarke collect the rebound and lay it back in, giving the Hokies a stunning 64-63 comeback victory over No. 5 Duke. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Hokies (21-9, 10-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) also have home wins against No. 9 North Carolina and No. 18 Clemson, and a road victory at top-ranked Virginia. They got this one by holding Duke without a field goal for the final seven minutes of the game, snapping the Blue Devils' five-game winning streak. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

"I thought we played really tired tonight," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, noting that it was his team's fourth game in eight days."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils committed 18 turnovers, and the Hokies turned them into 24 points. Duke turned 12 Tech miscues into just six points."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

"Part of it for us was to make them a half-court team, and we did unless we turned it over," Krzyzewski said."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Alexander-Walker led the Hokies with 17 points, Justin Bibbs had 14 on his Senior Night and Kerry Blackshear Jr. added 13."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Grayson Allen led Duke (24-6, 12-5) with 22 points, but his 3-point try before the buzzer missed. Marvin Bagley III grabbed the rebound, but the clock ran out before his layup went through."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

When officials signaled that the basket didn't count, fans streamed out of the stands onto the Cassell Coliseum floor."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils used an early 19-3 run to quiet the crowd and open a 29-14 lead, but the Hokies almost immediately responded by scoring 11 straight points, with Alexander-Walker getting the first seven and Bibbs the last four. The Blue Devils' lead was 33-27 at halftime."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

BIG PICTURE

Duke: The Blue Devils failed to extend their school-record string of games holding an ACC opponent under 60 points to five, but they weren't far off. They were without Bagley of the first three games of the streak. The Hokies reached 60 points on Chris Clarke's dunk with 1:26 remaining. In Bagley's return against Syracuse, the Orange managed just 44 points."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Virginia Tech: The Hokies didn't get their usual production from Justin Robinson and continued to get almost nothing from Ahmed Hill, who's still averaging 11.6 points despite not having scored more than nine in more than a month. Alexander-Walker helped fill the void, and Clarke scored six of his eight in the final 1:26."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211702795&DB_OEM_ID=4200

North Carolina meanwhile comes into their game with Duke with a record of 22-8 and 11-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and like Duke they are  also coming off a loss with their most recent loss coming to Miami Tuesday night.

Ja'Quan Newton hit a running 30-footer at the horn to help Miami upset No. 9 North Carolina 91-88 in a wild finish Tuesday night. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Newton's heave off his left foot came immediately after UNC's Joel Berry II hit a tough 3 of his own to tie the game with 4.1 seconds left. Miami pushed the ball upcourt for Newton's shot over Berry, then the Hurricanes immediately mobbed Newton near midcourt. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

"When I was guarding Joel, he came down and hit a great shot," Newton said. "Soon as he hit the shot, I came around and I wanted the ball. ... I got it. I looked at the clock when I was dribbling upcourt and it said 3 seconds left. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

"I was just like: 'I've got to shoot it.'" "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Officials quickly determined the shot came in time. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Miami coach Jim Larranaga said he considered calling a timeout before the Hurricanes inbounded the ball. And as Larranaga gave his postgame comments, Newton stared at a nearby wall-mounted TV replaying his remarkable shot."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Larranaga said the final play ended up being simply: "Ja'Quan, score so we can win this game." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

It capped a game that saw Miami (21-8, 10-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) squander a 16-point second-half lead, only to come up with a huge win with the ACC Tournament just a week away."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Chris Lykes scored 18 points to lead Miami, which shot 55 percent. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

Berry matched his career high with 31 points for the Tar Heels (22-8, 11-6), who lost their final home game to snap a six-game winning streak. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx


BIG PICTURE
Miami: The Hurricanes had won their past two games by a combined four points, including a comeback from 14 down to beat Boston College on a last-second 3-pointer on Saturday to reach their sixth 20-win season in seven seasons under Jim Larranaga. This one fit right in with those — and truthfully topped them. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

UNC: The Tar Heels entered this one trying to close out a perfect February, which included emotional rivalry wins against Duke and North Carolina State as well as road wins at Louisville and Syracuse. But they struggled for stops on a night when they shot 54 percent, and they also went just 13 for 20 at the line — including two to tie it in the final minutes before Berry's final basket. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/27/mens-basketball-miami-downs-tar-heels-91-88.aspx

With both teams coming off a loss in their last outing which one will execute their game plan and get back in the win column?

Tip-off is set for 8:15pm 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