CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Opposing teams only need one thing on their mind when developing a game plan to beat the Cavaliers: Stop the perimeter offense, and everything else follows. Virginia entered the game ranked second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage, and with four starting guards, the team clearly strategizes around its outside play.
Fortunately for the Blue Devils, their exterior defense was well up to the challenge.
For the entire 40 minutes, Duke’s half-court pressure harassed the Cavalier guards, with starters Nolan Smith and Seth Curry regularly sticking close to their men well beyond the 3-point arc. Sharpshooting junior guard Sammy Zeglinski entered last night’s action with 12 treys in the last three games, but he only went 0-for-2 from downtown against the Blue Devils.
“Our defense of the three was good.... We’ve been the best in the league in 3-point shooting defense,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “We tried to just stick with their 3-point shooters and make them two-point shooters.”
As a team, Virginia finished 3-for-12 from downtown, far below their season average of over seven makes on about 18 attempts per game. Notably, two of the three treys that the Cavaliers nailed came in transition—a further testament to the efficacy of Duke’s pressure half-court defense when it had time to set up.
“They were going to make us finish over the outstretched hand of their big kids inside,” Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. “Was it a shock? No, but it was frustrating.”
But perhaps even Bennett did not give proper credit to the Blue Devils’ “big kids,” who played tenacious defense both inside and outside. Kyle Singler—used to playing defense anywhere on the court as a swingman—played excellent 3-point defense despite a weak offensive performance and limited playing time due to foul trouble.
Ryan Kelly, on the other hand, rarely has to play defense on the outside. Yet, due to the Cavaliers’ unusually small lineup, he was thrust into the role, and ended up thriving on both ends. Kelly finished the evening with four blocks, taking advantage of the size advantage he had on his opponents. He also was second on the team with 11 points
“I’m not sure anyone in the league has improved more than Ryan Kelly,” Krzyzewski said. “Ryan Kelly is a very, very good player and he’ll keep getting better because he’s smart, he’s a hard worker and he doesn’t play outside of himself.”
Duke’s strong defense on the outside was complemented by efficient play from the post players, particularly the Plumlees. Together, they shut down Virginia’s 7-foot center Assane Sene to four points and five rebounds. Mason Plumlee was particularly skillful, going 4-for-5 from the field, totaling nine points to match his nine rebounds.
This type of slow-paced defensive game is not Duke’s style. In fact, even though it was a decisive victory, this was Duke’s lowest scoring total of the season. Still, the team’s ability to persevere with tough defense speaks to their resilience.
“Now we have to take a day off and get rejuvenated,” Krzyzewski said. “It’s a long season.”
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