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Surging Duke to hit road tonight
Blue Devils will try to improve to 3-0 in ACC against Yellow Jackets
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Published: January 14, 2009
Duke will end a hectic stretch of its season today when it plays Georgia Tech in Atlanta at 7 p.m.
It will be the fourth game in 11 days and the second consecutive ACC road game for the Blue Devils, who won three games in seven days to rise back toward the top the standings.
Duke (14-1, 2-0) will try to build its winning streak to seven in matching its defense against Georgia Tech's rebounding and a frontline that Coach Mike Krzyzewski considers imposing.
"What I see with them is how many offensive rebounds they have," Krzyzewski said. "I think a missed shot for them is actually part of their offense because they have those three big kids who go to the boards and do such a terrific job on the boards.
"I think they're one of the best rebounding teams in the country. And that's the thing that impresses me about them: their pursuit of the ball."
Duke has won 23 of its last 25 against Georgia Tech (9-6, 0-2) and 10 of its last 11 in Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Defense is carrying Duke again, as it has for most of Krzyzewski's 29 seasons. Duke leads the ACC in scoring defense (60.5 points a game allowed) and has held 10 opponents to 60 points or fewer.
Krzyzewski said that the biggest factor in developing the defense is the health of his players. No one has been out for an extended time, most important 7-0 center Brian Zoubek, and the contributions of reserves Lance Thomas and David McClure have been crucial.
Georgia Tech will counter with the ACC's No. 1 and No. 2 rebounders, Gani Lawal (10.0 rpg) and Alade Aminu (9.4). Aminu grabbed 17 rebounds in Tech's last game, a 68-61 loss at Maryland.
Krzyzewski said that his players will have to scratch, fight and claw for rebounds.
"If you're smaller, you need a commitment from all five of your players to be defensive rebounders," Krzyzewski said. "That means the perimeter has to come up with a number, even the point guards. When somebody has an advantage over you like that, you've got to make a full commitment for five guys to do it."
Many of Georgia Tech's woes are on offense. Tech had 28 turnovers at Maryland and averages 16.5 a game, but Coach Paul Hewitt is hoping that the return of Moe Miller will help with ballhandling.
Miller, a sophomore point guard, will play wearing a protective mask. He suffered a mild concussion and broken nose in a game Dec. 14 and had surgery to repair the break. His first game back was against Maryland.
Hewitt acknowledged that Duke closes off the lane, but Georgia Tech has not been able to score consistently from the outside. The Yellow Jackets are last in the ACC in 3-point shooting (28.9 percent, 57 3s for the season).
Senior guard Lewis Clinch averages 14.1 points but shoots 25.9 percent on his 3-point attempts. He was academically ineligible for the first seven games and has not been able to find his touch since returning. He was 6 for 17 against Maryland, but Hewitt still considers him the team's best veteran shooter.
"He just seems to have hit a rut here." Hewitt said. "He's a little frustrated but at the same time he keeps saying, ‘Coach, it's right there, it's going to start falling.' He's struggling right now, no question but I expect he'll come out and be as aggressive as he normally is and take open shots."
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
Game day
Duke at Georgia Tech
• Site, time: Alexander Memorial Coliseum, Atlanta; 7 p.m.
• TV/radio: ESPN Ch. 33; WIST 98.3
• Of note: Duke (14-1, 2-0) is going for its second ACC road win and has allowed just 102 points in two ACC games. It held Virginia Tech to 13 points in the second half and Florida State to 14 in the first half. This will be the 50th college game for sophomores Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. Duke is 42-7 in games they have played in. Georgia Tech (9-6, 0-2) will rely on sophomore Gani Lawal, who has averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds in the last three games and leads the ACC in rebounding.
WFU at Boston College
• Site, time: Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.; 9 p.m.
• TV/radio: WFMY Ch. 9 (CBS); WBRF 98.1; WZTK 101.1
• Of note: Sunday's victory over North Carolina boosted Wake Forest (14-0, 1-0) to No. 2 in the AP poll. But the Deacons are 0-7 all-time against Boston College (13-4, 1-1) and 0-4 since it joined the ACC. Last year, BC clubbed Wake Forest 112-73 in Conte Forum. The Eagles have been one of the ACC's mystery teams. Picked by the media to finish 11th, they beat North Carolina 85-78 on Jan. 4, but have since lost at home to Harvard and Miami. Senior Tyrese Rice leads BC with 17.3 points and 5.8 assists and also averages 4.3 rebounds. Jeff Teague of Wake Forest scored a career-high 34 against UNC.
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