Blue Devils win NCAA-best 72nd straight against non-conference opponent at home
In Pictures - Click HERE for game photo gallery
Top Plays (& Nolan Smith Postgame Interview)
Turning Point
After Radford grabbed a 13-10 lead early, the Blue Devils responded with a 28-6 run. The Highlanders used a zone defense for much of the first half in an attempt to protect their talented frontcourt players and our shooters responded, burying 13 first-half triples.
Blue Devil Ballers
Nolan Smith and Andre Dawkins each scored a team-high 20 points. Nolan also dished out seven dimes while Dre connected on six of his eight three-point attempts. Jon Scheyer was solid at the point, scoring 18 points and recording seven assists (and zero turnovers).
Duke Data
18 – 3’s made by Duke in the game, matching the all-time school record
0 – Turnovers this season by Jon Scheyer
25 – Assists by Duke on 35 made field goals
3 – Duke players in the game with seven assists (Jon, Nolan, Kyle)
Coach K’s Comments
“I am impressed with their team. I thought we beat a really good team today. We shared the ball so well. We had 35 buckets and 25 assists. For our veteran perimeter, each guy had seven assists and only five turnovers [combined]. It was very good. That was one of the reasons we played so well. We connected on passes. We were connecting shots. There was rhythm, a really good rhythm. Andre coming off and shooting the way he did…he got them all in rhythm. It says a lot for our veteran guys. They got him the ball. I love my team. They are very unselfish, a very unselfish basketball team.”
Locker Room Reaction
The media asked the guys mostly about the three-point barrage (18-32 3pt FG for the game), and the team’s unselfish play overall. Said Nolan, “This team has great chemistry. We’re playing together, having fun and making connecting plays. If it’s me passing to Kyle and my teammate makes the shot, I feel like I made the shot. That’s just how this team is. We’re having so much fun doing it.”
Sixth Man
The Crazies were loving Andre’s great performance, chanting “DRE ALL DAY” after his fifth three-pointer of the day. Dre clearly felt the love, breaking into a big smile out on the court and waving his arms. The freshman guard said afterward, “That was amazing. You watch guys have that experience on TV and you just wish you could be there one day. I just got kind of caught up in the moment. It was fun.”
Around the Web
Box Score – Stat recap
Duke Rolls – AP game recap
3’s Lead Duke — Blue Devils fired away against Radford’s zone D
3-Point Spree Sinks Radford — Devils have fun from downtown
Notes
*Duke scored 104 points, marking the 104th time under Coach K that the Blue Devils have reached the century mark.
*Next up: We’ll face Arizona State in the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Wednesday on ESPN2.
Fave Photo – A little shout-out to this group of Crazies… They’ve brought great energy while leaving their shirts at home the past three games. We see you! Thanks!
