Duke Basketball: Blue Devils can’t get over hump, fall in Blacksburg again
The Duke Basketball team couldn’t execute down the stretch and fell once again to the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg.
It’s just something about the Cassell Coliseum that trips the Blue Devils up, no matter who is on the team.
The Virginia Tech Hokies once again handed the Duke Blue Devils a loss in Blacksburg on Tuesday night, 77-72.
The loss was Duke’s third straight loss in Blacksburg and the Blue Devils have played and lost in Blacksburg three times on February 26 (2011, 2018, 2019).
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For the majority of the game, Virginia Tech seemed in control, but the Blue Devils attempted to make runs in the second half, but the Hokies were always there with an answer.
Duke took a 42-41 lead early in the second half, but immediately after the Marques Bolden basket that put the Blue Devils in front, Ahmed Hill was there for a 3-pointer to give the Hokies the lead right back.
Duke would not lead again, but the Blue Devils tied the game at 59, but right after the basket by R.J. Barrett, Wabissa Bede made a 3-pointer to give Virginia Tech the lead right back.
The Blue Devils would tie the game once more time at 70 with 1:39 to go, but after a Virginia Tech timeout, Ty Outlaw was there to give the Hokies the lead that it would not relinquish.
Despite being down by three points, the Blue Devils got a very good look at the basket with Alex O’Connell driving baseline and passing to an open Cam Reddish, who could not tie the game.
Even with the miss, Duke forced Virginia Tech to miss a 3-point shot with under 30 seconds to go, but a Kerry Blackshear Jr. offensive rebound and making all four of its free throws down the stretch was too much for the Blue Devils to over come.
Duke was led by R.J. Barrett who was dealing with a stomach aliment and after just four points in the first half, Barrett went for 17 points in the second half, to end the game with 21 points.
Buzz Williams had a great game plan on Barrett, hounding him and time he had the ball, and the Hokies carried out that game plan for the entity of the first half, yet for a major part of the second half, Barrett was able to penetrate and get to the rim.
Reddish and O’Connell were making their shots from 3-point range, combining to go five-of-eight, which is not enough shots for the two best shooters on the team, especially when the duo is consistently making their attempts.
Cam Reddish finished with 17 points and six rebounds but had to exit the game in the second half after picking up an offensive foul and landing hard on his back. Reddish made six of his thirteen attempts, and three of six from 3-point range.
O’Connell only took two shots and he made both, which was from 3-point range. One of O’Connell’s 3-pointers was arguably the biggest shot of the game for Duke when the Blue Devils were trailing 70-63 with under four minute to go, O’Connell nailed a triple that sparked a 7-0 run for Duke to tie the game at 70.
Marques Bolden also played very well for Duke off the bench tonight with 14 points, but he was unable to defend Kerry Blackshear in the paint as the junior big man led the Hokies with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
In its second game without Zion Williamson, who is still recovering from a Grade 1 knee sprain, the Blue Devils missed his presence most on the defensive end against Blackshear.
Jack White extended his missed 3-pointers streak to 28 attempts, Tre Jones struggled once again from the floor, making three of his nine attempts, one of four from 3-point range, for nine points, but also contributed six rebounds and five assists.
The loss dropped Duke to 24-4 overall and 12-3 in the ACC, making it very difficult for the Blue Devils to win the ACC regular season title, falling one game behind Virginia, who play three of its last four at home against Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Louisville, with its lone road game at Syracuse.
The Hokies get its best win of the season without star guard Justin Robinson and move to 22-6 overall and 11-5 in the ACC and will get the weekend off and be back in action at Florida State on March 5.
Duke will return to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, March 2, at 4:00 pm ET on CBS.