Duke, Tre Jones Head To New York To Face Syracuse
Ninth ranked Duke is beginning a three game road trip that will start in New York where they will face Syracuse on Saturday night.
Last season when Duke went to Syracuse their most important player the one that makes the engine run according to Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski was injured. Who was that player? Point guard Tre Jones who suffered a AC joint separation during a collision with Syracuse's Frank Howard that left the Duke guard lying on the court. In that type of injury, the collar bone is separated from the shoulder blade. “according to https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25762716/duke-loses-pg-tre-jones-indefinitely-shoulder-injury
Well, he’s back for his sophomore season and looking to remain on the court and lead his team on offense for the entire game as last season he only lasted until the 14:23 mark of the first half because of his injury after colliding with Frank Howard who no longer is a member of the Syracuse team as he has graduated.
This season Tre Jones is averaging 14.9 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game along with 6.8 assists per game. “according to https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4395626/tre-jones
Meanwhile, Tre Jones teammate Wendell Moore Jr. is looking to return to the court.
Freshman guard Wendell Moore, out since having surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand on Jan. 6, returned to practice this week and is on the verge of being cleared for game play — either Saturday at Syracuse or Tuesday night in Boston at the latest.
The 6-6 Moore has missed six games since breaking the fourth metacarpal bone during a Jan. 4 game at Miami. A versatile, athletic defender and able rebounder on the perimeter, Moore’s absence goes beyond his season averages of 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds. “according to an article written by Stephen Wiseman of the News& Observer.
Duke comes into the game with a record of 17-3 while they’re 7-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and second in the standings behind Louisville who is in first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference while Syracuse comes into the game with a record of 13-8 while they’re 6-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and fifth in the standings behind the defending national champion in Virginia who is fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. “according to http://www.theacc.com/standings.aspx?standings=40
As for last seasons meeting between Duke and Syracuse at Syracuse, Duke avenged their earlier loss in 2018-19 season with a ten point win at the Carrier Dome.
Freshman star Zion Williamson, who had a season-high 35 points in that first game. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/23/211792265.aspx
Freshman forward RJ Barrett, who had a triple-double and double-double in Duke's previous two games, scored 30 points to lead Duke and Alex O'Connell had 20.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/23/211792265.aspx
Tyus Battle led Syracuse with 16 points on 4-of-17 shooting, Elijah Hughes had 12, and Marek Dolezaj and Frank Howard had 10 apiece.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/23/211792265.aspx
O'Connell's four-point play early in the second half gave Duke a two-point lead and neither team led by more than four over the ensuing five minutes. O'Connell's fifth 3-pointer of the game, a career high, and Barrett's layup gave the Blue Devils a 58-52 edge with 9:16 to go. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/23/211792265.aspx
As for Duke’s previous game,
They returned to action on Tuesday night after a week off to host Pittsburgh.
Vernon Carey Jr. had 26 points and 13 rebounds as No. 9 Duke beat Pittsburgh 79-67 on Tuesday night after both teams honored Kobe Bryant during a pregame ceremony at Cameron Indoor Stadium.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-carey-goldwire-pace-no-9-duke-past-pitt.aspx
Before tipoff, players for Duke and Pitt honored Bryant when they warmed up in T-shirts with purple and gold numerals 8 on the front and 24 on the back -- the numbers Bryant wore with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday morning. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-carey-goldwire-pace-no-9-duke-past-pitt.aspx
Bryant and Duke alumnus and former ACC Commissioner Gene Corrigan, who died Friday, were honored before the game. Krzyzewski, who coached Bryant as Team USA won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, stood stoically as his former player was honored.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-carey-goldwire-pace-no-9-duke-past-pitt.aspx
Tre Jones contributed 14 points and Jordan Goldwire scored 13 as the Blue Devils (17-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their second straight game after dropping consecutive decisions to Clemson and Louisville. Pitt (13-8, 4-6) was led by Au'Diese Toney's game-high 27 points, but lost for the fourth time in six games.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-carey-goldwire-pace-no-9-duke-past-pitt.aspx
The Blue Devils displayed balance on offense in the first half as they took advantage of the attention freshman center Carey attracted in the paint. Carey scored seven of Duke's first nine points, forcing the normally stout Pittsburgh defense to collapse in on him in an effort to deny him the ball and contest his shots. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-carey-goldwire-pace-no-9-duke-past-pitt.aspx
Unlike Duke,
Syracuse had a setback their previous game as they were knocked off by Clemson after winnning five straight games.
A layup made by junior guard Clyde Trapp with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation propelled Clemson (11-9, 5-5 ACC) over Syracuse (13-8, 6-4 ACC), 71-70, Tuesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. The loss was the first for the Orange since a 67-63 defeat on January 7 at home against Virginia Tech, and snapped a five game winning streak. “according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
Tiger graduate senior Tevin Mack led all players with 32 points and 10 rebounds, including 23 points in the second half. Syracuse was led by Elijah Hughes and Buddy Boeheim, who each finished the night with 22 points. Clemson is now 6-4 all-time against the Orange.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
TIGER GAME-WINNER
After leading by as many as 10 points in the second half, the Orange found themselves trailing, 59-56, with 7:04 to play in the game. Two 3-balls down the stretch from Joseph Girard III and four points in less than a minute from Elijah Hughes put Syracuse ahead, 70-67, with 1:34 on the clock.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
Clemson responded with four consecutive points, including a layup through contact from junior guard Clyde Trapp with two seconds left to give the Tigers the edge, 71-70. The Orange had .9 seconds and the ball, but Trapp's score was enough to snap the streak at five and secure the win for Clemson.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
HUGHES HUGE IN THE FIRST
The Tigers lit up the scoreboard to begin the contest, as Mack, John Newman III and Trapp all hit 3-pointers to put their squad on top, 11-4. Syracuse was unsuccessful in its first four attempts from beyond the arc before Hughes converted from long range after 8:45 of action.”according to
https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
A 10-2 Orange run, including six points from Hughes, brought 'Cuse back within one, only trailing 17-16. Boeheim's third 2-point field goal of the evening evened the score at 20 with 6:48 remaining in the first half and forced Clemson to use a timeout. Hughes hit the double-digit scoring mark for the 21st straight outing by making three free throws and giving Syracuse its first lead of the tilt, 23-20.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
Boeheim and Tiger freshman Al-Amir Dawes each scored six consecutive points for their respective sides on two 3-balls in the final two minutes of the first half, and the Orange went to the break with a 35-33 advantage. Hughes led all scorers with 15 points at the break and set a new season-high with three steals, while Boeheim added 12. Syracuse's defense turned Clemson over eight times in the first 20 minutes and took control near the basket, outscoring the opponent, 18-6, in the paint.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM
Hughes and Boeheim continued to carry the Orange to start the second half, as the two combined for all eight 'Cuse points in the first 3:19 to build a 43-35 cushion. Girard notched his first bucket of the night to give the Orange their first double-digit lead, 45-35.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
TIGERS POUNCE
Clemson answered by hitting six of seven field goals as part of a 13-5 scoring push, including seven straight points from Mack, shortening the Syracuse lead to 50-48 with 11:46 to play in regulation. The Orange went without a point for 3:24 of play, before Marek Dolezaj hit a jumper to stay ahead by three. A layup from Mack gave the edge back to the Tigers, 53-52, with 9:19 on the clock for the first time since the 6:49 mark of the first half. The graduate senior converted three more jumpers in the paint to put his team up, 59-56, forcing coach Jim Boeheim to burn a timeout. Mack was responsible for 18 of the Tigers' 26 second half points and had a total of 27 in the game with 7:03 to play.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
Dolezaj and Bourama Sidibe both fouled out with less than eight minutes to go in the contest, prompting coach Boeheim to turn to freshman Jesse Edwards for valuable minutes down the stretch.”according to https://cuse.com/news/2020/1/28/mens-basketball-tigers-snap-orange-winning-streak.aspx
Tip-off is set for 8:00pm from the Carrier Dome. The game will be televised on ESPN.