Duke To Take On Notre Dame In The Quarterfinals Of The Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
Thursday night Duke and Notre Dame who only met once during the regular season back on January 29th in Durham will have a rematch in the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn New York.
The difference between that game and this game though is that forward Bonzie Colson who plays for Notre Dame didn't play in their first matchup because of a broken foot. He's back and will be on the floor when the teams face each other in the quarterfinals.
Duke comes into their game with Notre Dame with a record of 25-6 "according tohttp://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/150/duke-blue-devils and is coming off a win over their rival North Carolina on Saturday.
With No. 5 Duke trailing its fiercest rival and struggling to match the magnitude of the moment, coach Mike Krzyzewski had a simple message for his team. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
No pressure -- and no set plays, either. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
"Take the pianos off your back, quit playing with all the pressure in the world, get a smile on your face," Krzyzewski said. "Just play." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
Marvin Bagley III had 18 of his 21 points in the second half along with 15 rebounds, and No. 5 Duke erased a 13-point deficit in the second half and beat No. 9 North Carolina 74-64 on Saturday night. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
Grayson Allen added 15 points in his final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points -- including three 3-pointers in the final 10 minutes -- to help the Blue Devils (25-6, 13-5) clinch the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
Duke was 8 of 15 from 3-point range in the second half -- the Blue Devils made just 1 of 10 from that distance in the first half -- and outrebounded North Carolina 24-13 after halftime. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
"They kicked our butts in the second half," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
Cameron Johnson scored 16 points for the Tar Heels (22-9, 11-7), while Kenny Williams and Luke Maye each had 13. Three weeks after they rallied from a double-figure deficit to win the rivalry's first game, it was the Blue Devils' turn to flip the script. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
Duke trailed by 11 with 14 1/2 minutes to play, but once the pressure started to fade, the ACC's top offense finally found its rhythm. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
"I'm not going to call any plays," Krzyzewski said he told his team. "If you hit, cut, everybody touch the ball, you see a play to make, you make the play. And get comfortable in the game. And they did that. You could see them do that." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
The Blue Devils hit four 3s in 4 1/2 minutes to erase that deficit, and that came early during the 25-10 burst keyed by six 3s that put them ahead to stay. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
BIG PICTURE
North Carolina: The Tar Heels had a chance to spoil Duke's Senior Night for the third time in their last four regular-season-ending visits to Cameron, and sweep their fiercest rivals. Instead, after too many missed shots at inopportune times, they'll enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
"Played a little timid, and it's hard to win games like that -- playing timid," guard Joel Berry II said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
Duke: This very well might have been the final game at Cameron for a good chunk of the starting five, with Allen -- the team's lone senior -- surrounded by three potential one-and-done freshmen and Krzyzewski acknowledging in the leadup to the game that "it's the last game probably for a few of our other kids, too." The offense came alive just in time to send Allen -- and maybe the others -- out the way they wanted. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
KEY STATS
North Carolina, which tied a program record with two turnovers in the previous meeting on Feb. 8, had much more trouble taking care of the ball in this one. The Tar Heels had 14 turnovers and the Blue Devils turned them into 15 points. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
COMFORT ZONE
The Tar Heels also set a program record under Williams by taking 33 3-pointers in the first meeting, and put up 31 more in this one against Duke's 2/3 zone defense. But they only made eight -- three after halftime -- and the most conspicuous stat line belonged to Berry, last year's Final Four Most Outstanding Player who finished 0 for 7 from 3-point range. "I don't like shooting 31 3s," Williams said. "That's not who we are." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
KEY STRETCH
Duke had missed 13 of its first 14 3s before Trevon Duval and Allen connected on back-to-back possessions near the 13-minute mark and made it a two-possession game. Then, after Johnson missed a 3-pointer, Bagley finished off a pretty feed from Duval for a dunk that pulled the Blue Devils to 46-43 and reclaimed the momentum for good. "Marvin went nuts there for a while and just put us on his back," Krzyzewski said. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
HE SAID IT
"Aliens crawled up in my guys' bodies in the second half, because this wasn't the North Carolina team I've seen all year." -- Williams, on his team losing composure in the second half. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211703982
Notre Dame meanwhile comes into the quarterfinals with a record of 20-13 "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/nd-m-baskbl-sched.html haven played on Wednesday where they had to comeback from a large deficit to defeat Virginia Tech in the second round.
Trailing by 21 points and its NCAA Tournament hopes hanging by a thread, Notre Dame (20-13, 8-10 ACC) locked in on both ends of the floor and staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Virginia Tech (21-11, 10-8 ACC) by a score of 71-65 to advance to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
The Irish outscored the Hokies 45-18 over the final 15 minutes of play to seal the six-point victory. Notre Dame was led by senior Matt Farrell Trailing by 21 points and its NCAA Tournament hopes hanging by a thread, Notre Dame (20-13, 8-10 ACC) locked in on both ends of the floor and staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Virginia Tech (21-11, 10-8 ACC) by a score of 71-65 to advance to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
The Irish outscored the Hokies 45-18 over the final 15 minutes of play to seal the six-point victory. Notre Dame was led by senior Matt Farrell on the offensive end, scoring a game-high 22 points. Junior guard Rex Pflueger poured in 14 points, while sophomore guard T.J. Gibbs scored 13 and Bonzie Colson added 12 to pace the Irish offense. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
How It Happened
Notre Dame held an early lead at 13-8, thanks to a pair of makes from the perimeter from Gibbs. The Hokies then scored 19 of the next 23 points to take its first double digit lead of the night at 27-17 with seven minutes left in the first frame. Virginia Tech increased its lead to 13 at 34-21 heading into the halftime break. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
The Hokies picked up right where they left off to open the second stanza, pushing its lead to as many as 21 points with 15 minutes left in regulation. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
Trailing 51-33, the Irish offense finally kicked into gear. Notre Dame used three straight makes from beyond the arc on successive possessions to power a 17-3 to cut the deficit to just four points at 54-50 with 7:45 left on the clock. Gibbs and Farrell each scored five points in the stretch to spur the comeback. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
The two sides traded baskets, moving the score to 59-55 with three minutes to play. The Irish then cut the lead to two points off a layup from Pflueger and then took the lead off a three-pointer to beat the shot clock from Colson to go on top 60-59 with two minutes left on the scoreboard. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
Notre Dame's defense continued to lock down the Hokies, as the Irish lead ballooned to seven points at 66-59 with 35 ticks left on the clock. The Hokies connected on two three-pointers down the stretch but the Irish made enough free throws in the final seconds to come away with the 71-65 victory and keep their tournament hopes alive. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
Notre Dame Player Of The Game
On a night the Irish struggled to find offense, Farrell did everything he could to keep the Irish in the game on Wednesday evening. The senior led the team in scoring with 22 points, knocking down four three-pointers and going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Farrell also grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists."according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
Notre Dame Stat Of The Game
The Irish scored 50 points on 12-of-21 shooting in the second half. Notre Dame knocked down seven shots from beyond the arc and went 19-of-23 from the free-throw line in the final 20 minutes of play. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
Game Notes
- With the win, the Irish are now 8-3 all-time in the ACC Tournament over five seasons.
- Notre Dame improves to 8-2 against Virginiat Tech in the all-time series.
- The Irish are now 9-2 all-time at Barclays Center.
- Notre Dame held Virginia Tech scoreless from 6:50-0:28 of game time in the second half to go on a 14-0 run.
- The Irish outrebounded the Hokies 38-32 on the evening, leading to a 10-4 advantage in second chance points.
- The win is Notre Dame's 20th of the season. The Irish have now recorded 20-plus wins in four straight seasons and 14 times during head coach Mike Brey's 18-season tenure.
- With 10 makes from three-point range, the Irish have now reached double figures in made three-pointers 13 times this season
- Colson posted his 18th double-digit scoring performance of the year. The senior has finished with 10-plus points in every game he has played this season.
- Farrell has now scored 10-plus points in 24 games this season.
- Gibbs has reached double figures in the scoring column 26 times this season. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
Pflueger has finished with 10-plus points in 14 games this season. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030718aab.html
Tip-off is set for 7:00pm. The game will be televised on ESPN/ ACC Network. "according to http://www.goduke.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&SPID=1845&SPSID=22726