3 keys to Duke basketball’s revenge game at Virginia
By Jack Burgess
Key to a Duke basketball victory at Virginia: Containing Kihei Clark
If you take a look at Kihei Clark’s game, he is one of the most elusive point guards in the ACC. His ability to read defenses and orchestrate the best possible scenarios for the offense is a coach’s dream. While the Blue Devils may have trouble reading Clark’s brain for the game, they may be able to contain him.
The Virginia point guard finished the game at Duke with a game-high nine assists to go along with eight points and two steals. Night in and night out, Kihei Clark fills the stat sheets and is a nightmare for teams in almost every facet of the game.
Clark does, however, struggle with his shot-making ability. He ranks 64th in the ACC in field goal percentage at 39.8 percent.
If the Blue Devils can force Kihei Clark into some tight shot clock situations where he has no other option than to shoot or facilitate the ball at an unorganized pace, then Duke should have a relatively easy time containing him. Though his shot can be off and on at times, he does a great job driving to the basket and drawing contact and is, for the most part, trustworthy at the charity stripe.
His shot-making ability, or lack thereof, should be the least of Duke’s concerns because Clark is more of an assist-maker and is one of the best in the ACC in doing so.