Dec 17, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA;Duke Blue Devils ahead Cooper Flagg (2) drives to the basket as George Mason Patriots ahead Zach Anderson (10) defends throughout the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Pictures Aiming to increase their successful streak to 6 video games and to proceed their dominance over Georgia Tech, No. 5 Duke travels to Atlanta on Saturday to play its second Atlantic Coast Convention contest.
Duke (9-2, 1-0 ACC) hasn’t misplaced since Nov. 26, when it fell to Kansas 75-72 in Las Vegas. The Blue Devils are 35-5 towards the Yellow Jackets since 2000, however fell 72-68 at Georgia Tech final December.
Led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, Duke continues to be looking for its footing on the offensive finish of the court docket. The Blue Devils picked up a simple 68-47 residence win over George Mason on Tuesday, regardless of capturing 37.5 % from the sphere and 33.3 % on 3-pointers.
Flagg, who paces the workforce with 16.6 factors and 9.0 rebounds per sport, went for twenty-four factors, 9 boards and 4 assists towards George Mason, whereas persevering with to indicate to his all-around sport.
“I cherished how aggressive he was,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer stated. “It modifications the entire dynamic of our workforce when he is trying to assault. The wonder with him is a few nights, it’s going to be him taking 20 photographs and that is nice. Different nights it’ll be him getting 10 assists, which goes to occur.
“I believe he is due for a triple-double. I believe he is due for a 30-plus level sport.”
Following Flagg, fellow freshman Kon Knueppel averages 11.6 factors per sport, whereas junior Tyrese Proctor provides 11.4.
Whereas Duke’s offense has been regular sufficient, it’s the protection that is carried a lot of the load this yr. The Blue Devils have allowed fewer than 50 factors in consecutive video games, decreasing their common factors allowed mark to 58.7 — eighth greatest within the nation.
Duke vies to proceed that development on Saturday, as Georgia Tech continues to seek for its first energy convention win.
The Yellow Jackets (5-6, 0-1) have wins over West Georgia, Texas Southern, Charleston Southern, Central Arkansas and most just lately UMBC, however have not fared properly towards main groups, dropping every by a mean of 12 factors.
Coach Damon Stoudamire’s group did halt its three-game dropping streak Wednesday, when it topped UMBC 91-82 at residence. Georgia Tech noticed its 22-point lead shrink to 6 earlier than it secured the victory, in additional proof of a troubling development this season.
“To me, there isn’t any query we are able to play with Duke, however can we beat them, can we end the sport?” Stoudamire stated. “To beat a workforce like Duke, you have to play for 40 minutes. You possibly can’t have lulls within the sport, so that is what I wish to see.”
Lance Terry’s 15.5 factors per sport lead Georgia Tech, adopted by Baye Ndongo’s 12.9 and Naithan George’s 11.0. The Yellow Jackets will search for back-to-back residence wins towards Duke for the primary time since 1988-89.
–Area Stage Media
