Entrenched in its toughest stretch of the season, Duke can only afford to focus on the present.
Beginning a stretch of three games in five days, the No. 5 Blue Devils will face Georgia Tech at the Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta Tuesday at 9 p.m. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski even went as far as comparing the grueling stretch—which ends with a road matchup against rival North Carolina and a home game against undefeated Syracuse—to a Final Four weekend, both in atmosphere and quality of Duke's opponents.
“Whatever we do [against Georgia Tech], the last two games this week are really like a Final Four," Krzyzewski said. "You are playing two teams that might be in the Final Four.”
Duke (20-5, 9-3 in the ACC) won the last duel between the two teams with a 79-57 victory in Durham Jan. 7. Forward Rodney Hood led the Blue Devils to a second-half offensive surge after Duke clung to just a one-point lead at halftime. The redshirt sophomore finished with 27 points and six rebounds.
Despite Hood’s big game, fellow forward Jabari Parker struggled in his last matchup against the Yellow Jackets, scoring only 12 points in 21 minutes.
But the freshman appears to be playing some of his best basketball of the season, scoring 21 points or more in his last three games, including a 23-point, eight-rebound performance Saturday night against Maryland.
"I think he's such a multi-dimensional player and so versatile that he can hurt you in a lot of different ways," Georgia Tech head coach Brian Gregory said. "His strength and explosiveness to the basket—either from the perimeter or in the post—is very difficult for guys to stop 1-on-1."
Georgia Tech (13-12, 4-8) has struggled this season but is fresh off a 74-71 win against Boston College Thursday. The Yellow Jackets managed a slim victory playing without leading scorer Trae Golden, who played a year at Tennessee before transferring to the Yellow Jackets.
Gregory said Golden's playing status was questionable for Tuesday's matchup.
Georgia Tech recently welcomed back forward Robert Carter, Jr., who did not play the last time Duke squared off with the Yellow Jackets. In Thursday’s win, Carter scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. Before his injury, the sophomore also led the ACC in rebounding.
In Carter's absence, Georgia Tech turned to center Daniel Miller for a paint presence. The senior is second in the ACC in blocked shots and has averaged 15.3 points per game in his last four contests. His play is capturing attention around the ACC.
“People who just use ‘big man’ [to describe him] are mistaken,” Krzyzewski said. “He is very mobile. He can score with his back to the basket, but he can also face the basket. He can pass, he runs well and he has been one of the best shot blockers.”
Duke forward Amile Jefferson will have his hands full with Carter and Miller, but has proved to be a reliable and potent force near the basket, grabbing 12 rebounds against the Terrapins. Despite the sophomore's best efforts, the Blue Devils were outrebounded by Maryland 43-36.
With two high-profile matchups looming later in the week, Krzyzewski recognized that his team cannot be caught sleeping in an ACC road game.
"You can get ahead of yourself with the buildup that people will give for the Thursday night game and the Saturday game,” Krzyzewski said. "We were in a fight, a great game against Maryland—we will be in a great game tomorrow night against Georgia Tech."
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