Battle 4 Atlantis stat wrap

Duke took home the Battle 4 Atlantis title Saturday night after knocking off No. 2 Louisville 76-71. The Blue Devils played three games in three nights, defeating Minnesota and Virginia Commonwealth before upending the Cardinals in the finals. As Duke prepares for their third showdown with a top-5 team on Wednesday when No. 4 Ohio State travels to Cameron Indoor Stadium, take a look at the key stats from the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

• Duke shot 23.5 percent from three-point range: The Blue Devils have long been known for their three-point prowess. With sharp-shooters like Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly, and Rasheed Sulaimon on the roster, the three-point shot is a staple of the team's arsenal. That was not the case in Atlantis. Over the three game stretch in the Bahamas, Duke shot a woeful 12-of-51 from beyond the arc. In the three games prior to the tournament, the team drilled 24-of-57 from long-range, good for a 42.1 percentage.
• Duke was +20 in the assist margin: The Blue Devils averaged just 12 assists per game last season, but have become a much better passing team this year with Quinn Cook patrolling the point. The amazing part of Duke's large advantage in the assist department is how the team was able to limit its opponents' assists. Louisville managed just six assists all game, VCU only four, and Minnesota 12. On the season, those opponents average 15, 14, and 16 per game respectively. It was the defenses of Louisville and VCU that were lauded coming into the tournament, but it was Duke's defensive tenacity that stymied the opponents' ball movement.
• Ryan Kelly blocked 10 shots: Mason Plumlee provides the intimidation for Duke on the inside, but it was Ryan Kelly who found his shot blocking abilities in the Bahamas. Kelly had a tournament high 10 rejections, bringing his season total to 14 for the season, three more than Plumlee. Kelly's 10 blocks in three games is even more amazing when you look at his track record. Last season the senior forward swatted a total of 31 shots all season. If he keeps up his current pace, Kelly will have no trouble eclipsing that mark in 2012-2013.
• Opponents shot 47.6 percent from the free throw line in the final 10 minutes of the game: Perhaps the biggest improvement for this year's Duke team versus last year's is its proficiency from the free throw line. After shooting 70.1 percent from the line last season, the team is up to 79.1 percent this season. The shooting has been even better for Duke late in games. During this tournament, the Blue Devils made 28-of-30 free throws in the final 10 minutes of the three games, helping them to lock down close games against Louisville and VCU. Opponents didn't fair nearly as well from the stripe. Duke's three foes reached the free throw line only 21 times down the stretch and made just 10 attempts. Looking at solely the Louisville and VCU games, Duke put the other team on the line just 14 times, and only four of those shots were made. The Blue Devils' ability to hit free throws down the stretch was a big factor in why they were able to leave the Bahamas with hardware.