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Versatility Leads Duke Past Louisville into ACC Tourney Semifinals

By Chris Brown

Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Louisville Cardinals forward Mangok Mathiang (12) during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center.
Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Louisville Cardinals forward Mangok Mathiang (12) during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center. /
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The Blue Devils used a variety of lineups and defensive schemes to defeat Louisville and advance to the ACC tournament semifinals.

Duke Basketball excelled to come back in the second half and win 81-77 against a tough Louisville team. The key to this game for the Blue Devils was their versatility offensively and defensively. That will be key for the team going forward for the rest of the postseason, starting with Duke-UNC Part 3 today.

Related Story: Blue Devils Defeat Clemson to Open ACC Tournament

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    • The first half was highly-contested with Duke going into the break up 39-37. However, the Cardinals came out on fire after halftime, going on a 24-10 run in the first 7 minutes of the second half to take a 12 point lead. Then Coach K switched to zone defense which significantly impacted the game. Louisville was unable to score and the Blue Devils climbed back to eventually take the lead and win.

    The Blue Devils got huge scoring contributions from Luke Kennard, Grayson Allen, and Jayson Tatum. Tatum led the game with 25 points scoring in a variety of ways. Kennard made several clutch shots in the second half after struggling early and finished with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. Grayson Allen was key off the bench playing aggressively with 18 points, which is hopefully a sign he is healthier and ready to contribute consistently in the tournament.

    Duke Basketball advances to face top-seeded North Carolina for the third Tobacco Road rivalry game this season. UNC easily dispatched Miami 78-53 in their quarterfinal matchup. The Blue Devils’ performance against Louisville should help them also play well against the Tar Heels.

    They can try playing more zone defense to help defend the paint, provided UNC guard Joel Berry II doesn’t have another shooting night like last time. Using bigger lineups also helped limit Louisville’s size, with Harry Giles and Amile Jefferson playing together more against the Cardinals. The keys for Duke in this game will be rebounding, Grayson Allen off the bench, and consistent scoring from Allen, Kennard, Tatum, and Frank Jackson.

    Next: Can Blue Devils Win NCAA Tournament?

    Duke and North Carolina split the season series with each team winning at home. The game will be held at 7:00 pm tonight in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The winner will advance to the ACC Tournament Championship game against the winner of Florida State-Notre Dame.

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