Devils open NIT Season Tip-Off tourney with a win over Coastal Carolina...
In Pictures
Turning Point
A 24-11 second-half spurt pushed our lead to 25 midway through the second half and we cruised to the victory.
Blue Devil Ballers
Kyle Singler recorded a double-double, with 23 points and 11 boards. Jon Scheyer was solid at point guard, dishing out five assists against zero turnovers.
Duke Data
28.6% – Coastal Carolina’s shooting percentage (lowest percentage by a Duke opponent since January 24th last year against Maryland)
19-2 – Duke’s all-time record in the NIT Season Tip-Off
83.3% – Duke’s free-throw percentage in the game (20-24)
30 – Consecutive Duke wins against unranked teams
Coach K’s Comments
“We’re pleased with the win. It was a different kind of game — triangle and two, spreading you out. I thought it took us a while to get adjusted to it and then we did. Our defense overall was very good once we stopped going out and played containment and stopped penetration. We never really got into a really good rhythm offensively in the first half, but in the second half I thought we found some really nice things to do against the triangle and two and got great shots, rebounds. We missed shots, but we got great shots. I thought Jon played a great game. He sacrificed himself for the team, taking five shots, but five assists and no turnovers. And Kyle didn’t get a shot for about seven minutes and then he found a good rhythm. There are a couple things we went to in the second half that turned out to be really good and with Andre running the offense, which he’s never done. It’s just that kind of game where it’s November 16 and they have a guy suspended from their starting lineup and they’re going to junk it up, which they should. And we got some guys who are out and you try to figure it out so I thought overall we figured it out fine. It will be nice to have Nolan back tomorrow.”
Locker Room Reaction
Coastal Carolina used a triangle-and-two defense for much of the game, focusing attention on Jon and Kyle. The result was some open looks on the perimeter and inside. Said Jon, “They were focusing a lot on Kyle and me. It’s not something where I need to force anything. The main thing is, we just need to get good shots and if that meant I was taking the shots or our big guys were getting good looks down low, then that is what we had to do.”
Sixth Man
It was Freshman Night in Cameron so there was a number of Crazie rookies in the house. The Coastal Carolina mascot was also in the building since it was a Preseason NIT game and the Crazies welcomed him with the chicken dance, a Chick-fil-a chant, a “Turkey Dinner” greeting and a “Eat More Chicken” recommendation.
Around the Web
Box Score – Stat recap
AP Recap – Duke weapons lead to an easy win
Scheyer Makes It Work – Jon Scheyer holding it down at the point
Duke Gets the Treat — Duke overcomes Coastal Carolina’s defensive “tricks”
Notes
*Next up: UNC-Charlotte takes on Duke with a birth in the NIT Season Tip-Off Final Four in New York City at stake. The contest tips at 6:00 PM on ESPN2, with Nolan Smith making his season debut.
Fave Photo
