Duke Travels To Clemson Looking For Their Third Straight Win

After beating Virginia Tech in Durham  for their second straight win Duke now heads to South Carolina where they will take on Clemson and look to get in the win column for the third straight time.

A key battle between the two teams tied for second in the ACC awaits No. 12 Duke and No. 11 Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211700860&DB_OEM_ID=4200

• The Blue Devils are looking for their fifth win over a ranked team this season (4-2). Under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke is 221-144 versus ranked teams, including an 8046 mark versus ranked ACC teams.
• Gray Trent, Jr., leads the ACC in three-point shooting – both overall (.460; 74/161) and in ACC play (.505; 46/91). His overall percentage of .460 leads all NCAA freshmen.
• Wendell Carter, Jr., is the only player in the nation shooting .600+ from the field, +.450 from three, and .695+ at the free throw line. He leads the ACC in both overall field goal percentage (.603) and is second in league play (.597).
• Clemson comes in 20-5 overall and 9-4 in conference. The Tigers have won four of their last five games, and are spotless at home this season (13-0).
• Marcquise Reed leads the team in scoring (15.7) and has increased his output in conference games to 16.4 ppg.
• Saturday’s game is the 141st meeting between Duke and Clemson with the Blue Devils leading 109-31. Duke won both meetings last season, including a 79-72 triumph in the ACC Tournament. Frank Jackson, Luke Kennard and Jayson Tatum all paced the Blue Devils with 20 points in the win. "according http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211700860&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke comes into their game with Clemson with a record of 21-5 while they're 9-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/2

As for their previous  game Duke beat Virginia Tech on Wednesday night  in Durham where Duke senior guard Grayson Allen came alive.

Grayson Allen has thrived for No. 12 Duke in two games with Atlantic Coast Conference-leading scorer and rebounder Marvin Bagley III sidelined with a knee injury."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

Perhaps the Blue Devils have found a couple of new twists to implement once Bagley returns."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

Allen scored 25 points and matched a career high with seven 3-pointers, helping No. 12 Duke beat Virginia Tech 74-52 on Wednesday night."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

With Allen playing more at the top of the offense, he followed his 23-point performance in Sunday's win without Georgia Tech with his best scoring output in a league game after several struggle-filled nights."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

Allen came into the game shooting 35 percent from the field, but made 9 of 17 shots and 7 of 15 3s -- the last sending him backpedaling upcourt with a sly grin and a look to the roaring "Cameron Crazies" as the Blue Devils (21-5, 9-4 ACC) turned it into a second-half rout."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

"It felt good," Allen said of his shot. "A few of them I knew they weren't going in as soon as they left my hand. But the rest, I wasn't thinking about anything, just looking at the bottom of the net."

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski pointed to the shift that has Allen playing more at the top, which pulls defenders out to expose penetration lanes on the sides."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

"With the ball in his hands, he can make plays and he can call plays," Krzyzewski said. "He's more in command, so these last two games, that's a big change for us." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams felt the impact of the tweak, noting that Bagley shoots "99 percent" of his attempts on the left side of the floor. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

"That changes the complexion of their team," Williams said. "Obviously, I think Bagley's incredible. But with Allen touching the ball so much more, not only is he going to shoot more, but I think he probably facilitates the play on both sides of the floor a lot more." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

Justin Bibbs scored 15 points to lead the Hokies (18-8, 7-6), who shot 43 percent but couldn't get out in transition. It resulted in Virginia Tech's lowest output since scoring 52 in a home loss to Virginia on Jan. 3; the Hokies had scored at least 80 points in eight of 10 games since."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

BIG PICTURE

Virginia Tech: The Hokies certainly arrived with confidence after Saturday's overtime win at now-No. 1 Virginia, which tops an improving NCAA Tournament resume. But the Hokies couldn't follow with another big one, and it didn't help that leading scorer Justin Robinson (13.8 points) finished with five points on 2-for-10 shooting while being limited by foul trouble."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

"I don't think they could've handled anything better," Williams said of his team's two-win response since losing to Miami on Feb. 3. "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

Duke: While Bagley recovers from a sprained right knee, Duke turned in probably its best start-to-finish defensive effort. And in one positive sign of many, Duke overwhelmed Virginia Tech on the glass (36-19) and took an 18-2 edge in second-chance points. Freshman Wendell Carter Jr. led that effort with 13 rebounds, while his five offensive boards were more than the Hokies had as a team (three). "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

3-POINT SHOOTING

Freshman Gary Trent Jr. added 19 points and five 3-pointers, part of Duke's 15-of-33 showing from behind the arc."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

"They take away the middle, they take away the lane," Krzyzewski said. "So we told Gary and Grayson: `Just shoot. You're going to get shots. And don't worry about it." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

ZONE LOOKS

Duke stuck with its zone defense throughout this one, and it sounds like it's here to stay."according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

"We will play a lot more zone," Krzyzewski said. "That'll be pretty much our primary defense and then complemented by man." "according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=211700463

Clemson meanwhile comes into their game with Duke with a record of 20-5 and 9-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and are coming off a loss on the road in Tallahassee to Florida State in overtime.

 Clemson University men’s basketball had its four-game win streak snapped in overtime at Florida State on Wednesday night, 81-79. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211700498

The Tigers (20-5, 9-4 ACC) led by 12 at the break. In the second half, the Seminoles (18-8, 7-7 ACC) used a 15-2 run to get back into the game – eventually tying it with eight seconds to play in regulation to eventually force overtime."according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211700498

Florida State would outlast the Tigers in the extra period for the win. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211700498

Marcquise Reed finished with a team-high 23 points in the effort. Clemson committed 21 turnovers in the contest which led to 29 Seminole points."according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=211700498

Tip-off is set for 1:00pm from Littlejohn  Coliseum. The game will be televised on the ACC Network. "according to http://www.clemsontigers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=28500&SPID=103715&SPSID=657833