This is the fifth year at Virginia for seniors Mike Scott and Sammy Zeglinski, but they’ve never beaten Duke. Barring a meeting in this year’s postseason, this will be their last (and perhaps best) chance to earn a win over the Blue Devils. While No. 16 Virginia (14-1) is riding a 12-game winning streak, its longest in 30 years, No. 8 Duke (13-2) is reeling after losing at Temple and surviving a struggle at lowly Georgia Tech 81-74.
Thursday night’s game in Durham, N.C., will be a test for the Blue Devils against a Cavaliers defense that ranks second in the nation in points allowed per game (50.5).
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“The way they play it is a beautiful way to play defense,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said via teleconference Monday. “You don’t get many assists, and you don’t get many second shots. It’s tough to get into the lane. You gotta shoot well against them.”
While Duke is struggling at the point, replacing one D.C.-area product, sophomore Tyler Thornton (Gonzaga), with another, freshman Quinn Cook (DeMatha/Oak Hill), it still has an array of perimeter threats, ranking eighth in the nation in 3-point shooting (41.7 percent).
Ryan Kelly (47.6 percent), Seth Curry (43.1 percent), Austin Rivers (40 percent) and Andre Dawkins (38 percent) have each hit at least 20 shots from beyond the arc. Their outside shooting is the prescription for success against a Virginia defense that packs the lane.
“They’re all capable,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. “They can get on the offensive glass. They can get it going in transition. Those guys can shoot it from 3. They’re a complete offensive outfit.”
– Kevin Dunleavy
