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(11/18/13 9:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Duke is ranked for the first time in nearly 20 years after a statement victory against then-No. 24 Miami Saturday night at Wallace Wade Stadium. The No. 25 Blue Devils ran the ball with great success to earn the victory, and made the necessary defensive stops to hold the Hurricanes in check late in the game, winning by a score of 48-30. Here are the grades for Duke's play this weekend.Offense: ARush: The rushing attack was fantastic and central to Duke's win. As quarterback Brandon Connette described, the Blue Devils did not even need to pass the ball that much because the ground game was so successful. Connette rushed for four touchdowns, all in goal-line situations in which he often broke through tacklers to dive into the end zone. More important than Connette were the players that set up his touchdown opportunities—specifically running backs Jela Duncan, Josh Snead and Shaquille Powell. Snead accounted for the majority of Duke's 358 yards gained on the ground. A pivotal play occured with around six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter with Duke up eight points in a one possession game. On fourth down, Powell took the handoff and broke through the line for a 33-yard touchdown. Not only did the Blue Devils rely on the run but also it worked to their advantage for the first game in quite a long time.Pass: The aerial attack was not Duke's focus during the game, and it wasn't spectacular. Playing time was split between Connette and Anthony Boone who combined for 185 yards through the air on 24 pass attempts. There were some bright spots—like when Connette hooked up with Powell on a wheel route into the end zone in the second quarter, which pulled Duke within three points of Miami. Connette was also the quarterback who delivered a beautiful 43-yard pass to wide receiver Max McCaffrey in the third quarter to ignite the Blue Devil offense. The drive ended in a field goal that put Duke up 31-30, a lead they would not relinquish. The passing game was not as strong as fans have become accustomed to seeing, but it was enough to win the game for Duke.X's and O's: The offense looked good, especially because they managed to run over a Miami defense that appeared more physically imposing than Duke. When the Blue Devils put up 48 points in a game and the defense plays decently well, Duke should expect to win. This team has the ability to put points on the board through both the air and ground, which shows the kind of depth and precision it now runs with. The offensive line deserves recognition for opening up the running lanes that the backs took advantage of—especially in the goal-line sets. The Blue Devils committed no turnovers in the game and found ways to drive down the field in crucial moments to keep Duke in the game. Defense: B+Rush: Duke allowed 186 yards on the ground which was a solid day from a numbers perspective, yet the most revealing fact was the 6.4 average yards per carry. Miami certainly had their way with the Blue Devils undersized defense for most of the night. Were it not for crucial plays in the secondary—including the game's sole turnover on an interception by Deondre Singleton—the Blue Devils would not have had a chance against the Hurricanes. The defensive line was unable to stop many runs at the source, relying on clutch tackles from corners and linebackers to keep the Hurricane rushers under control.Pass: Because the defensive line was unable to get consistent pressure on Miami quarterback Stephen Morris throughout the night, Morris was able to pick apart the secondary at times. The key for the defense, however, was when it made plays, and that was in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils did not allow the Hurricanes to score in the final quarter of play due to multiple pass breakups that if missed would have cost Duke the game. Beyond Singleton's interception, the overall game performance from a pass defense perspective was average at best, as the Blue Devils allowed two Miami receivers to accrue more than 100 yards through the air.X's and O's: The defense looked as solid against Miami. Hurricane wide receiver Herb Waters certainly proved to be a challenge to corral, as he mustered two touchdowns on the day. It was not Duke's best defensive game, but with the offense largely functional, all the defense needed to do was restrict the Hurricanes toward the end of the game. Especially in the red zone and in Duke territory, the Blue Devils kicked into another gear altogether, allowing them to halt Miami drives prior to the endzone. If the defense can continue to give the offense even an opportunity to win the game, head coach David Cutcliffe will surely have his quarterbacks poised to seize the opportunity.Special Teams: BSaturday night was not the best night for special teams, but it was certainly a lucky one. Kicker Ross Martin hit both of his field goal attempts—including a 48-yard attempt that bounced off the upright of the goal post and through to put the Blue Devils up 31-30 in the third quarter. Besides Martin and punter Will Monday, who are consistently good, the special teams unit allowed an early punt return for a touchdown and failed to break out any major returns of their own. Duke was more conservative with special teams play and the lack of aggressive running allowed the Blue Devils to stay in the game and earn the win.
(11/16/13 7:00am)
It was over before the second half even started.
(11/16/13 12:07am)
Chelsea Gray
(11/11/13 10:36pm)
A look at the top teams in the women's college basketball landscape.
(11/08/13 1:47pm)
There is little excuse for Joanne P. McCallie and the Blue Devils should they not make the Final Four of this season’s NCAA tournament. This team has all the pieces of a national championship contender—experience, talent at every position, a deep bench and the drive to succeed—and that is precisely why Duke will make the Final Four come April.
(11/02/13 11:26pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>An exhibition does not always mean an easy win.Duke learned this lesson against Division II national champion Drury Saturday in a highly-contested 81-65 victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium.Although the Blue Devils played a subpar first half against smaller competition in the Panthers, the second half told a much different story."They weren't scoring because we weren't working hard," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "They were scoring because we weren't working hard together. Second half we worked hard together."The Blue Devils came out determined after trailing at the break 38-34, and forced a turnover that earned Rodney Hood an easy layup in the opening seconds. Hood led the Blue Devils with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out four assists to lead his team's comeback effort."I got to set a tone being strong, always having each other's back, and talking," Hood said. "Just come out with a sense of urgency, not worry about the score or what people are going to say after the game. We're staying the moment and just winning the game."Duke's defensive intensity improved as the second half progressed. The Blue Devils began to box out better on rebounds and put pressure on the ball. Success on the defensive end translated to better play on offense."You could tell a difference in the second half with their defensive intensity," Drury head coach Steve Hesser said. "Second half, it was harder for us to move the basketball because they were really getting up and pressuring."Duke took a 46-44 lead on a Josh Hairston follow-up layup with 14:25 left in the second half and did not look back. By the nine-minute mark, the Blue Devils had extended their lead to 11 points. Despite efforts to comeback, Drury failed to convert enough of the its offensive opportunities to erase the Duke lead."The second half I thought we talked better, communicated better, and played a lot better," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "But we didn't play poorly in the first half because we just didn't care. We played poorly just because they played really well. They're good, they're extremely well coached, and they play as one. And we're trying to learn to play that way."In the first half, the Blue Devils had not been able to capitalize on their advantages as Drury's disciplined play resulted in a 38-34 lead at the half.Despite a severe height discrepancy between the two team—Drury's tallest player is 6-foot-6 and Duke's is 7-foot—both teams managed 21 rebounds at the end of the half. The Blue Devils failed to box out and contend for defensive rebounds, allowing the Panthers multiple attempts per possession.Drury played a more polished game in the first half than Duke. Their national championship pedigree was present as the Panthers would not back down to any adversity on the court, whether it was a resounding Duke slam dunk that excited the fans in attendance or a miscue while the Panthers were on offense."I think they beat us in the first half, and that's what we need to stop from happening," freshman forward Jabari Parker said. "I know that they did a real good job coming in, preparing, throwing up 10 assists, and it played out well for them."Duke failed to convert the majority of its 3-point shots, shooting a meager 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. On the offensive end, the Blue Devils relied on 1-on-1 matchups to procure scoring as the team's ball movement slowed. After dishing out 21 assists as a team in its first exhibition victory against Bowie State, Duke managed just 13 helpers against Drury.Duke played the entire bench except for Rasheed Sulaimon—who was reported to be battling illness—Todd Zafirovski and Nick Pagliuca in the first half alone, as head coach Mike Krzyzewski searched for the lineup combination that might spark a Blue Devil run. Duke kept attacking the basket on the offensive end, despite shooting a paltry 53.8 percent from the free throw line in the half.Besides Hood, Duke received key contributions from Parker and junior guard Quinn Cook, who each scored in double figures, and Amile Jefferson who grabbed 16 rebounds and notched 13 points.After the contest, Krzyzewski said there was a stark difference between Hood's performance and the rest of the his team. With the regular season just around the corner, college basketball's winningest head coach indicated the Blue Devils are still a work in progress."When we come in here, and we're talking about what we did instead of what an individual did, then we've gotten it there," Krzyzewski said.
(11/02/13 7:36pm)
Though No. 4 Duke’s second exhibition game might seem like a pushover, don’t take Drury for your typical low-quality program. The Panthers face the Blue Devils Saturday at 1 pm at Cameron Indoor Stadium having come off a National Championship season in Division II College basketball. Here are three keys to the game.
(10/29/13 9:19pm)
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(10/28/13 7:24pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It wasn't pretty, but Duke is going bowling for the second straight year. The Blue Devils barely scratched by then-No. 16 Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va, earning their sixth victory of the season 13-10. Despite a subpar performance from the offense, the defense and special teams carried Duke to victory, its first win against a ranked opponent on the road in more than 40 years.Offense: D-Pass: It's easy to overlook that the offense was abysmal for the majority of the game—especially quarterback Anthony Boone and the passing attack. Boone managed merely 107 yards on 7-of-25 passing in the game. He threw four interceptions on the day, the same number as Hokie counterpart Logan Thomas, yet Thomas managed 21 completions for 214 yards in the air. Boone simply looked out of sync, overthrowing wide receiver Jamison Crowder multiple times. The Blue Devils did just enough in the air to move the ball at crucial times, but by no means was this passing attack what we've come to expect from a David Cutcliffe squad.Rush: Not much was happening on the ground either. Duke's leading rusher was Boone who had a nine-yard run for the Blue Devils sole touchdown of the day in the third quarter. Boone and running back Jela Duncan combined for 82 yards on the ground on 18 attempts to account for the majority of Duke's rushing attack. The single most important play of the game came from backup quarterback Brandon Connette, who on a fourth-and-1 took the snap, spun around two defenders, and dove for the first down which sealed Duke's victory. Despite a couple bright moments, the running game for the Blue Devils was subpar at best.X's and O's: Duke's offense just looked bad against the high caliber defense of Virginia Tech. The Blue Devils failed to convert a single third down in the game on 11 attempts and barely managed to complete Connette's fourth down run that sealed the game. Duke scratched by the Hokies this week relying heavily on the defense and special teams to win the game. Moving forward, the offense will need to contribute more, especially if the Blue Devils want to take a step forward from simply making a bowl game.Defense: A+Pass: Everyone on the defense deserves a moment of recognition. These columns have often pointed out the deficiencies in pass coverage and pressure on the quarterback, but this week was the exception. Led by linebacker Kelby Brown, who had 14 tackles and an interception on his way to winning the National Defensive Player of the Week award, the Blue Devil defense was exceptional. Thomas threw four interceptions in the game in pivotal moments. One of the more spectacular picks came from cornerback Ross Cockrell, who made a diving interception in the end zone, which kept the Hokies from taking a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. The effort and results in pressure situations were simply exceptional for the pass defense Saturday.Rush: The rush defense was strong for Duke overall. Thomas' large frame was difficult to bring down. He ran the ball more than any other Hokie, including for Virginia Tech's sole touchdown. The Blue Devils did just enough to hold the Hokies in check despite 46 rushing attempts and nearly 40 minutes of ball possession on the part of Virginia Tech's offense. Duke made the plays it needed to, bending but not allowing the Hokies to break out for large gains on the ground.X's and O's: This game was not about the numbers for the defense. Yes, the Blue Devils gave up nearly 400 yards of offense. However, that was not the story. Duke came through when it needed to most and kept Virginia Tech to a paltry 10-point performance. Interceptions and key stops on third and fourth down sealed the game for the Blue Devils. The defense looked crisp. There was solid run defense and pass coverage with strong play on the line. If Duke keeps this trend of grind-it-out defense alive for the remainder of the season, expect more positive results.Special Team: AIn combination with the defense, special teams won the game for Duke. Kicker Ross Martin connected on two 50-plus yard field goals in the second quarter to give Duke a 6-0 lead. On the defensive side, the Blue Devils put enough pressure on Hokie kicker Cody Journell to force him to miss two important field goal attempts from inside 45 yards. Duke won the game by kicking and playing defense well, displaying strength in more areas than throwing the ball downfield.
(10/26/13 8:12pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>And so it begins. The Blue Devils will take the court against Bowie State, their first opponent of the season in exhibition play, Saturday at 1 pm. Excitement is in the air as Duke faces off against its first opponent this season. The Blue Devils will unleash the pressure defense and fast-paced playing style that has been spoken about often during the off-season. Here are three key things to watch against Bowie State: Who will be Duke's number three scorer and contributor?Rodney Hood and Jabari Parker have been the talk of Duke basketball, and both make their debut Saturday. The two forwards will undoubtedly contribute on the offensive and defensive ends, and likely be the top scorers with such skill and athleticism. It may vary game to game, but this will be the first opportunity for a third player to fill a significant role for Duke. There is no clear third scorer or contributor to this team as there was last season with the trio of Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly, and Seth Curry. This will be the first opportunity for players like Rasheed Sulaimon, Quinn Cook, Andre Dawkins and Amile Jefferson to make that first step.What will this "new" playing style look like with a deep roster?Fans got their first opportunity to see Duke's new style of play during Countdown to Craziness, but matched up against their teammates, the Blue Devils committed many fouls, slowing the game down to a crawl. Bowie State will be the first real opponent against whom Duke can put their new playing style to the test. The biggest question is whether this style and lineup can succeed at the college level. Teams like the Miami Heat in the NBA have proven a lack of dominant inside presence has not been necessary, but few teams in college have had the luxury of so many skilled and athletic wing players as Duke. With so many threats, how will head coach Mike Krzyzewski manage minutes and lineups to put the best squad on the court at all times? The rotation in an exhibition will likely be larger than it will be in the regular season, but this will be the fans' first look at who may play consistently for the Blue Devils this season.Will Duke score more than 100 points?This is a serious question. Duke always plays well against far lesser competition during exhibition play. Considering that three major recruits for next year's class will be in attendance, a commanding showing from the Blue Devils will go a long way to setting a standard of excellence this season. It may prove important to recruiting and to fan confidence in Duke this season for the Blue Devils to have a commanding victory against Bowie State. It would be great to see this roster and playing style gel well together and put on a show, especially when matched up with a lesser opponent. If Duke can command the game by playing hard defense and scoring easy transition buckets, don't be surprised if the score gets close to triple-digits.Make sure to follow @dukebasketball on Twitter for the most up-to-date action.
(10/25/13 10:34pm)
Expectations are high for the 2013-14 Duke men's basketball squad following an Elite 8 exit from the NCAA Tournament last season. Here are three questions for the team moving forward:
(10/21/13 9:55am)
The drought has ended.
(09/29/13 4:26am)
It came down to the defense.
(09/02/13 7:10pm)
In the third installment of the Bull City Gridiron Classic at Wallace Wade Stadium Saturday afternoon, the Blue Devils began their quest for a second consecutive bowl appearance in 2013 with a rout of cross-town rival, N.C. Central. From the start Duke controlled the game on both sides of the ball earning a 45-0 victory, the first shutout for the Blue Devils since 1989.
(04/01/13 8:14pm)
No. 2 seed Duke's season has come to a close in the Elite Eight against the overall No. 1 seed Louisville, one game shy of a Final Four appearance in Atlanta, GA. The Blue Devils, who were unable to compete with the Cardinals intense defensive effort and strong guard play, held leads in both halves but were unable to hit key shots for the majority of the second half.
(03/31/13 11:02pm)
The No. 2 seed Blue Devils will face their greatest challenge at 5:05 P.M. Sunday against a streaking No. 1 seed Louisville for the right to go to the Final Four in Atlanta.
(03/30/13 8:37am)
No. 2 seed Duke is moving on to the Elite Eight after a hard-fought defensive battle against Michigan State at Cowboys Stadium. The Blue Devils relied on defense and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to secure the victory, 71-61, and a matchup with top-seeded Lousiville for the opportunity to play in the Final Four.
(03/24/13 8:01pm)
Duke 67, Hampton 51 (final): Duke maintained its near twenty-point advantage to close the game as the toll of a physical game and a small lineup showed on Hampton's players. Duke's depth and strength ultimately prevailed as the Blue Devils survive the first round of NCAA Tournament play. Duke will play either DePaul or Oklahoma State who tip-off immediately following the Blue Devils game Tuesday.
(03/09/13 12:28am)
Duke 79, NC State 65 (Final): NC State began fouling Duke early with 1:37 left in the half. The Blue Devils made their free throws down the stretch to extend their lead as the Wolfpack failed to convert on the offensive end. When NC State tried to press, Duke calmly broke it down to convert easy layup opportunities. Duke extended its lead to double-digits and cycled in the bench for the final minute of play. Chloe Wells hit a layup in the final seconds to seal the victory for Duke.
(02/11/13 6:34am)
After defeating N.C. State in a competitive 98-85 victory, Duke (21-2, 8-2 in the ACC ) travelled to Boston College (10-13, 2-8) in the snowy aftermath of a historic blizzard. Despite a slow start due to a modified game-day schedule, the Blue Devils came from behind to earn a 62-61 victory.
