The Blue Devils have not had much time to think about their toughest road test of the season.
With just one day of rest following Saturday's victory against Florida State, No. 18 Duke will return to action to take on No. 20 Pittsburgh Monday at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center in the teams' first matchup as ACC foes.
Despite having only one day to travel to Pittsburgh and prepare, Duke knows another gritty performance on both ends of the court will be necessary to hand the Panthers their first home loss. With a showdown at No. 2 Syracuse looming later in the week, the Blue Devils' upcoming road trip will be one of the toughest portions of the season.
“We’ve got a quick turnaround now and go to Pitt,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said after Saturday’s win against Florida State. “These six days—[we have] two on the road and one at home against really big, physical teams. Hopefully we’ll have the energy to do a good job.”
To continue its recent momentum, Duke (16-4, 5-2 in the ACC) will likely continue using heavy substitutions to keep the Blue Devil defense alert and active. The changes have paid off, and Duke has not lost since extending its rotation against Virginia.
The Blue Devils might finally face a team that can match its depth Monday. Pittsburgh (18-2, 6-1) has nine players averaging more than 10 minutes per contest.
“Whatever it takes, we’re going to keep our energy level at its highest,” redshirt sophomore center Marshall Plumlee said. “Whether that means subbing five guys or one guy, we just really want to attack.”
Duke’s defense will be put to the test by a balanced Pittsburgh offense highlighted by redshirt senior guard Lamar Patterson, who leads the Panthers at 17.9 points per game.
Shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc this season, Patterson is a threat to score from many spots on the floor. He is also Pittsburgh's leading assist man at 4.7 helpers per game.
In what is shaping up to be a physical matchup, the Blue Devils and Panthers will battle for control of the game's tempo. Duke's ability to score in transition will be tested by a stingy Panther defense that is allowing just 60.2 points per game this season. On offense, Pittsburgh prefers to slow the ball down and minimize the number of possessions in a game.
The Blue Devils will likely find halfcourt opportunities in the paint limited by Pittsburgh’s athletic frontline that features multiple shot blockers. Redshirt senior forward Talib Zanna leads the way for the Panthers inside. Averaging 13.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest, the Nigerian bruiser sets the tone for Pittsburgh in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Freshman Jabari Parker, sophomore Amile Jefferson and Plumlee—who had seven points and seven offensive rebounds against the Seminoles—are no stranger to competing against a large front line. Against a Florida State team that featured three 7-footers on its roster, the Blue Devils dominated the glass, pulling down 27 offensive rebounds.
“Rebounding is something we’ve tried to make a focal point these last few weeks,” Plumlee said. “It’s something that’s started to show in recent games, so no matter who we play we’re hoping to come up with the [win] on the boards.”
Although Patterson and Zanna are the leaders of this Pittsburgh squad, the play of sophomore point guard James Robinson is the reason the Panthers find themselves among the contenders in the ACC. Robinson has a 4.6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio and has provided balance as the consummate game manager for head coach Jamie Dixon.
The battle between two of the most efficient point guards in the country—Robinson and junior Quinn Cook—will be yet another scintillating matchup to watch.
Despite all of the nuances of the game, the Blue Devils know that their ability to play hard and stay poised will once again be the key to coming out on top.
“We’ve got a tough Pitt team at their place, which is going to be tough,” redshirt sophomore Rodney Hood said. “But if we keep playing like we’re playing, we’ll be in good position.”
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