CHARLOTTE - Duke was expected to beat Virginia last night.
The No. 1 seed, in fact, was expected to roll over the last-place team in the conference.
But this?
Top-ranked Duke (30-1) dazzled everyone in attendance with a 104-67 blowout of ninth-seeded Virginia (14-16) in the opening round of the ACC tournament. The Blue Devils opened an early lead, built on it and never looked back in cruising to their 25th straight win. The 37-point margin of victory was the third biggest in conference tournament history.
"We came out and played really well," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "I'm very happy with our team. We respected Virginia, and I think that's why we played so well. They've been playing hard the whole year, and our guys matched them and we just went on a run in the first half. We played outstanding basketball."
Duke was running from the opening tip. Chris Carrawell scored seven of the Blue Devils' first 13 points, as Duke burst ahead 13-3 in the opening four minutes. Virginia didn't help its cause by making just one of its first nine shots, including six blown layups.
The Blue Devils continued with runs of 8-0, 9-2 and finally a 27-5 burst to close out the first half with a 59-21 advantage. Duke blocked seven shots and pounded Virginia on the glass, 35-14,
"We have to be shocked to be up by that at halftime," Krzyzewski said. "Overall, our kids handled things well in the second half with their concentration. Because of our perimeter, we're probably the worst team for them to play."
Things only continued to get out of hand in the second half, with a Will Avery three stretching the Blue Devils' advantage to 76-32. By then, about half of the crowd in attendance at the Coliseum, who oohed and ahhed throughout the first half, fled for the exits. Duke's largest lead was 82-36 and finally at the 7:31 mark, the Blue Devils began to empty the bench and the game quietly wound down.
By that point, Avery already had 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, Carrawell and Elton Brand both had 15 and Chris Burgess was done registering four blocked shots. Duke outrebounded Virginia 59-36 for the game and shot 52 percent from the field while holding the Cavaliers to just 32 percent.
"We stressed playing hard," Corey Maggette said. "We've been doing that in the past and now we're just going out there ready to play. We know if we go out there and play our game, we'll get the win."
The biggest question of the evening was answered early on when Shane Battier checked into the game at the 16:12 mark. Though Burgess got the start, Battier showed his high ankle sprain was feeling much better, knocking down a quick three, blocking a shot and even feeling comfortable enough to draw a charge.
Battier finished with eight points and two blocked shots in 16 minutes. He played 12 in the first half, and then Krzyzewski limited him in the second half with the game long since decided.
"I really wasn't tentative on physical contact," Battier said. "I felt good in warmups. Once I got out there and started running up and down the floor, I forgot about [the ankle]."
All week since Saturday's win over North Carolina, Duke spoke of making sure it came at strong against Virginia. The results ended up speaking for themselves.
"We were outclassed by a great team," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "They're a wrecking machine. This is the best team I can remember playing against as an assistant coach or a head coach and this is my 24th year in college basketball.
"I honestly can't remember a better team. The thing that makes them great is their defense. Other great teams don't play with that ferocity on defense."
Duke faces the winner of today's game between No. 4 seed Wake Forest and No. 5 N.C. State in tomorrow's first semifinal matchup at 1:30 p.m.
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