Duke Is Returning To Action, Hosting Georgia Tech Tonight In Durham After Being Sidelined With Covid -19 Problems In Their Program, After Having Games At Clemson, At Notre Dame Postponed Because Of It
Duke is returning to action, hosting Georgia Tech tonight in Durham after being sidelined with Covid -19 problems in their program, after having games at Clemson, at Notre Dame postponed because of it.
Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski had this to say about Duke pausing their program because of Covid -19!
Most of his players, staff contracted contracted COVID-19, which forced the postponement of Duke’s last two games.
"It's really been a very difficult time for our program," Coach K said. "We're looking forward to getting back to 100% percent."
They were in isolation,"When you have it you're in isolation so you're in your room, you're not allowed to do anything. It's not like these guys are getting ahead. It went through just about our whole team. We're not in the shape that we have been in before and so it's going to take some time to ramp up. We have to make sure we don't binge conditioning."
“according to an article by David Thompson on usatoday.com”
Duke is ranked second in this weeks AP Top 25 Poll!
Georgia Tech isn’t ranked!
Duke comes into the game with a record of 11-1 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and is third in the standings.
“according to the acc.com”
Why?
Because they haven’t played a game an opponent since Wednesday December 22, 2021 when they hosted Virginia Tech, beat Virginia Tech 77-65 because they’ve been sidelined with coronavirus issues in their program.
In their 77-65 win over Virginia Tech Instead of going big with Theo John , Mark Williams Duke went small with Paolo Banchero , AJ Griffin, Trevor Keels, Wendell Moore Jr. , Jeremy Roach!
When?
In the second half!
Result?
A 76-65 win over Virginia Tech as Duke opened league play in Durham on Wednesday night!
Before they went small though, Duke played big!
Though, didn’t work!
Why?
Because Virginia Tech opened up an eight point lead in the second half before Mike Krzyzewski replaced Mark Williams with AJ Griffin.
“according to Stephen Wiseman’s tweet on Twitter”
Though, once Duke went small they got their offense going!
How?
Paolo Banchero scored 23 points in all while he scored 17 points n that dominant second half, fueled by the move to a smaller lineup around the versatile 6-foot-10 forward. That helped Duke (11-1, 1-0 ACC) erase an eight-point deficit early in the half while slowing Virginia Tech's Keve Aluma after his big first-half performance.
Wendell Moore Jr., added 18 points for Duke, which has won four straight.
Paolo Banchero sparked the go-ahead push from a 42-36 deficit, scoring on a drive, then sticking back his own miss and following with a step-back three-pointer — all against Aluma. Banchero followed that by getting airborne and then zipping a pass to a cutting Trevor Keels for a layup and a 43-42 lead at the 14:31 mark.
The lead grew from there, with Palo Banchero scoring on an up-and-under move against Aluma and then putting in his own miss to cap a 27-7 run that pushed Duke to a 63-49 advantage with 7:35 to go.
It was a dominant stretch from Duke's star freshman, who had been thoroughly outplayed by the 6-9 redshirt senior in the opening half.
Virginia Tech (8-5, 0-2) thrice closed to within seven in the final five and a-half minutes, and had a terrific opportunity to draw even closer when Aluma got a wide-open corner three down 72-65. But he couldn't connect, and then Keels followed with two free throws and a transition layup off a steal to all but seal this one.
Keve Aluma had 17 points before halftime to help the Hokies lead 36-32 at the break, but things were tougher the rest of the way as he finished with 25 points to go with 10 rebounds.
Justyn Mutts added 20 points for the Hokies, who shot 43 percent for the game and went just 1 of 9 on three-pointers after halftime.
“according to an article on goduke.com”
Mike Krzyzewski had this to say about Duke’s win over Virginia Tech to David Shumate Duke’s radio announcer after Duke’s 76-65 win over Virginia Tech!
They’re a really good team and a veteran team but the at start of the second half we went small and Paolo had a great second half. There was five minutes of vintage Duke Basketball.
Duke freshman Trevor Keels had this to say to David Shumate after Duke’s 76-65 win over Virginia Tech!
ACC is a very different style -very physical and I loved it . Our defensive intensity was great we knew it would be a fight . I know when I play defense it fires up the other guys on the floor- just a fun game .”
Georgia Tech comes into the game with a record 6-6 while they’re 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and are thirteenth in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.
Why?
Because they were topped by Louisville 67-64 on Sunday in Atlanta after coming off a coronavirus pause within their program.
In Georgia Tech’s 67-64 loss to Louisville Georgia Tech men’s basketball mustered a late rally to climb within one, but wasn’t be able to retake the lead, falling 67-64 to Louisville on Sunday night at McCamish Pavilion.
A cold spell in the second half that led to nearly five minutes without a basket dug the Yellow Jackets (6-6, 0-2 ACC) an eight-point hole, but Tech then returned the favor with nearly three-and-a-half minutes of scoreless ball to close, stopping the Cardinals (9-4, 3-0 ACC) and keeping them in the game.
Michael Devoe led the game in scoring, pouring in 23 points, while Jordan Usher recorded 17 of his own to go along with a team-high six rebounds. Kyle Sturdivant also finished in double figures with 14.
“according to an article on ramblinwreck.com”
Tip off is set for 9:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium!
The game is going to be televised on ACC Network with Wes Durham, Corey Alexander commentating!