Duke Battles Virginia Tech In The Sweet Sixteen

On Friday night two Atlantic Coast Conference teams will take on one another in the sweet sixteen as Duke who is a one seed in the NCAA Tournament and in the East Region faces Virginia Tech who is a fourth seed in the East Region in Washington D.C.

This go around though Duke will be at full strength as Zion Williamson is back in the lineup as he didn’t play in the first matchup because of a sprained knee “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26042130/duke-loses-zion-williamson-mild-knee-sprain-shoe-blows-outwhile while Justin Robinson has returned to the lineup for Virginia Tech after being sidelined with a left foot injury “according to https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2019/02/04/virginia-techs-justin-robinson-remains-sidelined-with-left-foot-injury Virginia Tech will also have the services of Outlaw.

Virginia Tech intends to play senior guard Ty Outlaw, who has been charged with marijuana possession, against Duke in the NCAA tournament on Friday. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

Hokies coach Buzz Williams announced in a statement that Outlaw took a drug test before the team left campus Wednesday for its Sweet 16 showdown in Washington, D.C., on Friday against the top-seeded Blue Devils. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test The test came back negative, prompting Williams and athletic director Whit Babcock to allow Outlaw to play Friday. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

"We will continue to let the process play out and that's all I can say at this time," Williams said Thursday in the statement. "If information changes, we will respond appropriately according to our policies." “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

Williams addressed the issue with reporters later on Thursday. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

"Maybe sometimes what scrolls across TV may not actually be the whole story, or what is published on Twitter in an ironically efficient pace may not be the whole story," he said. "So Ty's handled everything perfect. He's been transparent not only with me but with all the authorities involved. And I think it will play itself out. And maybe there should be an apology. Maybe not. Maybe that's just me being overprotective." “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

Outlaw was charged March 21, the day after he and the Hokies arrived in San Jose, California, for the first round of the NCAA tournament, according to records on the Virginia Courts Case Information website. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

The sixth-year senior was charged March 21, the day after he and the Hokies arrived in San Jose, California, for the first round of the NCAA tournament, according to records on the Virginia Courts Case Information web site. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26374278/va-tech-outlaw-charged-pot-possession

His hearing is set for April 11. Outlaw started and scored seven points March 23 as the fourth-seeded Hokies beat Saint Louis 66-52 in the first round of the tournament. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26374278/va-tech-outlaw-charged-pot-possession

Outlaw said he discussed the situation immediately with Williams. He said he wasn't worried that the charge would end his college career. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

"I'm sure everybody else outside the program might have thought that. But that's the reason why we followed protocols and the reason why I trust in my coaching staff and Buzz Williams," he said. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

The 6-foot-6 Outlaw is averaging 8.7 points per game and shooting a team-best 45.6 percent from 3-point range this season. His hearing is set for April 11. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26379473/va-tech-outlaw-play-passing-drug-test

Duke comes into the game with a record of 31-5 while Virginia Tech comes into the game with a record of 26-8.

Virginia Tech won the only regular season meeting between the two teams on February 26th when Duke visited Blacksburg.

Ty Outlaw hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 88 seconds left and No. 20 Virginia Tech beat No. 3 Duke 77-72 on Tuesday night while Blue Devils star freshman Zion Williamson sat out his second straight game with a sprained right knee. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211792727

Kelly Blackshear Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Ahmed Hill scored 17 points for Virginia Tech (22-6, 11-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), which beat Duke at Cassell Coliseum for the third straight game. The Blue Devils (24-4, 12-3) had been the only team in the country yet to lose on the road this season, but Duke hasn't won at Virginia Tech since Feb. 25, 2015. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211792727

RJ Barrett scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, but it wasn't enough to keep the Blue Devils from dropping out of a first-place tie with No. 2 Virginia Tech and No. 5 North Carolina in the ACC. Cam Reddish added 17 points as Duke dropped its second in three games, including an 88-72 loss to UNC when Williamson was injured Feb. 20.

The Hokies seemed to have taken control with a 9-2 run to open a 68-61 lead with 4:32 to play, but Duke used a 9-2 run to knot it at 70 with 1:51 to play. Outlaw's 3 from the right wing followed a pass from Wabissa Bede, and after Reddish missed at the other end, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was fouled and made both free throws for the Hokies. Alexander-Walker had 13 points.Unlike during their only regular season meeting both teams will be at full strength as Duke will have Zion Williamson who missed six games because of a knee sprain he suffered against North Carolina on February 20th while Virginia Tech will have their point guard Justin Robinson back in the lineup after missing most of the season with a left foot injury. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211792727

As for how Duke advanced to the sweet sixteen they survived in the second round against UCF.

Zion Williamson took on 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall at the end and won, and top-seeded Duke survived when two last-ditch shots by UCF rolled off the rim. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211797062&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Aubrey Dawkins finished with 32 points, but his tip-in try just missed Sunday, and Duke advanced with a 77-76 victory to reach the Sweet 16. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211797062&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Williamson had 32 points, including a layup over Fall with 14.4 seconds left and his team trailing 76-73. Williamson was fouled and missed the free throw, but RJ Barrett scored on a putback to put Blue Devils (31-5) ahead. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211797062&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Ninth-seeded UCF (24-9) had a final chance, but B.J. Taylor missed a short jumper and Dawkins failed on his tip attempt with less than 2 seconds left. Duke got the rebound, ran out the clock and moved on to the Sweet 16 for 27th time and fourth time in the past five years.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211797062&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Dawkins cringed at the miss. His father, Johnny, is the UCF coach and was a former Duke star and longtime assistant under coach Mike Krzyzewski.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211797062&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Barrett finished with 16 points. “according to Barrett finished with 16 points.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLIDb=211797062&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Like Duke, Virginia Tech also advanced to the sweet sixteen but unlike Duke, Virginia Tech didn’t have to survive.

History was made on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, as the fourth-seeded Virginia Tech men's basketball team won 67-58 over 12th-seeded Liberty at the SAP Center. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

The win signified a lot for the Hokies (26-8), including their first run to the Sweet 16 since the tournament expanded (1985), as well as the most wins in program history with 26 and coach Buzz Williams' 100th win at Tech. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

Four Hokies scored in double figures, with forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. leading way with a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds. Guard/forward Ty Outlaw had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, the first double-double in an NCAA Tournament game by a Hokie since Bobby Beecher in 1986 and the eighth all-time. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

Guards Ahmed Hill and Justin Robinson also had 10-plus points, with Hill having 14 points and Robinson with 13. Guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker had a team-high six assists, six points, six rebounds and three steals.”according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

Tech will take on the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, Duke, on Friday in Washington, D.C. in the Sweet 16. The two played earlier this season on Feb. 26 and the Hokies came away with a 77-72 win in Blacksburg.”according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

HOW IT HAPPENED

Liberty (29-7) got off to a hot start, hitting six 3-pointers the first 15 minutes into game to take a 26-18 lead, forcing a Tech timeout. Out of the break, the Hokies answered with an 8-0 run behind an and-1 and layup from Blackshear and a triple from guard Justin Robinson to tie it up at 26-all with 1:40 remaining in the first half.”according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

But the Flames answered with six straight points before guard Ahmed Hill hit a 3-pointer right before the buzzer to cut it to a three-point deficit at halftime, 32-29. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

To open the second half, the Hokies got into rhythm offensively and poured in 21 points to take a six-point lead, 50-44, at the 11:33 mark and wouldn't look back, as they didn't allow the Flames to make it less than a two-possession game. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

After a Liberty 3-pointer with 2:20 remaining to make it a five-point game, Robinson came down the court and hit a clutch 15-foot jump shot to push it back to a seven-point advantage and essentially bet he dagger with that being the closest it would get the following two minutes. “according to https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/3/24/mens-basketball-history-made-in-san-jose-hokies-headed-to-sweet-16.aspx

Tip-off is set for 9:39 from Capital One Arena that is home to the Washington Wizards Of The NBA. The game will be televised on CBS.