Eight months ago, over 48 million viewers watched as Duke defeated Butler 61-59 in an epic national title game. The game was fierce and close throughout, ending with a last-second wayward miracle shot from Butler’s Gordon Hayward that still has Duke fans cringing. The game will certainly be fresh in the minds of the Duke and Butler faithful.
But viewers can expect a different type of matchup this time around when the No. 1 Blue Devils take on the Bulldogs Saturday at 3:15 p.m. in East Rutherford, N.J.
“We’re going to go into New Jersey, and we’re on a mission,” freshman guard Kyrie Irving said.
Irving will work hard to see his Blue Devils to victory as he returns to his native state of New Jersey. Duke (7-0) will travel to the Izod Center with an impressive 18-1 record at the Meadowlands. Butler (4-2) will attempt to put a dent in the Blue Devils’ New Jersey dominance as it fights to regain a spot in the Top 25.
Few will doubt that Butler is a different team from last year. Sophomore Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer last season, left for the NBA Draft, going ninth overall to the Utah Jazz. Junior guard Ronald Nored is questionable for tomorrow’s matchup after he suffered a concussion against Siena Nov. 23. The Bulldogs’ most potent strength lies in the defensive prowess of the team’s guards. Senior Zach Hahn was critical in locking down Duke’s guards in April’s matchup. Head coach Brad Stevens focuses his team’s efforts on keeping opponents out of the transition game, which is Duke’s preferred tempo of play.
Senior forward Matt Howard will have his opportunity to make big plays for the Bulldogs. Howard leads Butler in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16 points and 9.7 boards per game. The senior will need to stay out of foul trouble, however, if he hopes to be a threat against the Blue Devils.
When the teams met in April, Butler held Duke to 5-of-17 shooting from 3-point range. But the Bulldogs will need new and improved strategies if they hope to keep this year’s squad of sharpshooters from heating up. Duke has an array of players who have posted strong numbers behind the arc. The triple threat of Kyrie Irving, Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry present the key difference from last year’s final. Each of the guards is shooting at least 44-percent from beyond the arc.
Yet, there is no question that the Blue Devils’ guards will be tested by Butler’s defensive pressure. Duke must be wary of turnovers if it hopes to maintain an up-tempo style of play.
Duke will look to Miles and Mason Plumlee to gather points in the paint. While Miles needs to elevate his level of play, Mason has been huge for the Blue Devils lately, posting a double-double Wednesday against No. 6 Michigan State. A key concern for Duke, however, is the status of Mason’s ankle, which he injured in the second half against the Spartans.
The Blue Devils are coming off their toughest game of the season, but Duke must remain sharp as it faces a Butler squad hungry to avenge the narrow loss in last season’s national title game.
“In order to win later in the year, you have to put two games like that together,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “It’s great for us to be able to have that.”
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