Duke Returns To Action As They Host Jeff Capel, Pittsburgh

Duke has been off for seven days as they last played a week ago when they hosted Miami.

On Tuesday night ninth ranked Duke will return to action but Wendell Moore Jr. won’t when they host Pittsburgh who’s head coach is Jeff Capel who not only is a former player but former associate head coach on Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching staff.

Though Mike Krzyzewski recently gave an update on Wendell Moore Jr. The freshman guard from Charlotte North Carolina who has been sidelined with a broken right hand, is making progress toward a return. After having surgery on Jan. 6, Moore has missed five games.”according to an article written by Stephen Wiseman of the News & Observer.

But the brace has been removed from his right hand, allowing him to resume shooting. Though he’s yet to practice with contact, Moore’s return is drawing near. “according to an article written by Stephen Wiseman of the News & Observer.

“Wendell is still not ready to play,” Krzyzewski said, “but he’s close. ”according to an article written by Stephen Wiseman of the News & Observer.

During his playing days in Durham Jeff Capel made an immediate impact at Duke as  Capel served as a team captain in both 1996 and 1997 and earned third-team All-ACC accolades as a junior in 1996.
He was a four-year starter for the Blue Devils, leading the team to 83 wins and a trip to the 1994 national championship game. He racked up 1,601 points, 433 assists and 220 three-point field goals, finishing among Duke’s career leaders in minutes played, three-point field goals made, three-point field goal percentage and assists. “according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/staff-directory/jeff-capel/2489

As for his coaching career at Duke,

Capel spent seven seasons at Duke University (2011-18), including the final four seasons as associate head coach under Mike Krzyzewski. In that span, he helped guide the Blue Devils to a 200-55 (.784) record, seven NCAA Tournament appearances, the 2017 ACC Tournament championship and the 2015 National Championship. In that time, Capel also helped secure commitments from 19 McDonald’s All-Americans as Duke signed a top-two class in each of the past five years, including the top class in 2014, 2015 and 2018.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/staff-directory/jeff-capel/2489

Duke comes into the game with a record of 16-3 while they’re 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and are third in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings while Pittsburgh comes into the game with a record of 13-7 while they’re 4-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and eighth in in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. “according to http://theacc.com/standings.aspx?standings=40

As for last seasons meeting between Duke and Pittsburgh, Duke won the only meeting between the Atlantic Coast Conference opponents at the Peterson Events Center.

- Zion Williamson hit his first 10 shots on his way to 25 points, fellow freshman RJ Barrett scored 26 and No. 2 Duke had little trouble with Pittsburgh in a 79-64 victory on Tuesday night. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/1/22/211787327.aspx

Williamson finished 11 of 13 from the floor to go with seven rebounds and seven assists for the Blue Devils (16-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who kept the Panthers (12-7, 2-4) in check even without injured freshman guard Tre Jones. Duke held Pitt to 41 percent shooting, outrebounded the Panthers 39-34 and wasn't in any real danger after a surge midway through the first half.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/1/22/211787327.aspx

Trey McGowens led Pitt with 14 points, Jared Wilson-Frame and Terrell Brown added 12 each but the Panthers simply couldn't match Duke's size or firepower.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/1/22/211787327.aspx

As for Duke’s previous game,

They last played a week ago when they hosted Miami.

In that game freshman Matthew Hurt scored 15 of his 22 points in a dominating first half to help No. 8 Duke beat Miami 89-59 on Tuesday night. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/21/mens-basketball-no-8-duke-takes-care-of-miami-89-59.aspx

Tre Jones added 16 points for the Blue Devils (16-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who entered the game coming off their first back-to-back losses since February 2018. They were never in any danger in this one, following a 33-point win in the first meeting by turning this one into another blowout by midway through the opening half.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/21/mens-basketball-no-8-duke-takes-care-of-miami-89-59.aspx

Duke knocked down open look after open look against Miami's zone, starting with Hurt burying a 3 from the left corner on the Blue Devils' first possession then following with another -- in which he pumpfaked Sam Waardenburg off his feet to set up the shot -- from the opposite wing on the next possession.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/21/mens-basketball-no-8-duke-takes-care-of-miami-89-59.aspx

And the Blue Devils didn't stop hitting, either, in that opening half. The Blue Devils shot 52% and hit 9 of 17 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes, then cruised the rest of the way to put an emphatic end to a modest skid.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/1/21/mens-basketball-no-8-duke-takes-care-of-miami-89-59.aspx

Unlike Duke,

Pittsburgh didn’t have a week off as they had to play at Syracuse over the weekend where they sufferd a loss.

 After trailing by 16 points with 9:20 to play, Pitt brought it within three twice, the latest coming with 33 seconds left before ultimately falling short to Syracuse on the road Saturday afternoon.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/1/25/mens-basketball-pitts-comeback-falls-short-at-syracuse.aspx

Justin Champagnie led Pitt with 14 points and Terrell Brown had 11. Leading scorer Trey McGowens had seven points.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/1/25/mens-basketball-pitts-comeback-falls-short-at-syracuse.aspx

Pitt fell behind early by double digits and never closed within striking distance until late. After Guerrier scored five straight points for the Orange for a 49-35 lead midway through the second half, Ryan Murphy hit a 3, his first after five misses from long range, McGowens hit another 3, and a layup by Champagnie closed the gap to 56-47 with 6:02 left as the Panthers outscored Syracuse 14-3 in a five-minute surge.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/1/25/mens-basketball-pitts-comeback-falls-short-at-syracuse.aspx

A 3-pointer from the top of the key by Murphy and a foul-line jumper by Brown narrowed the gap to 59-56 with 2:43 left, but Hughes converted a drive through the lane and Dolezaj put back a miss by Hughes with 1:43 to go to keep the Panthers at bay.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/1/25/mens-basketball-pitts-comeback-falls-short-at-syracuse.aspx

Pitt missed 10 of its first 11 shots as the Syracuse defense swarmed, blocking five shots, three by Hughes. The Orange, who converted three three-point plays in the first half, used a 15-2 run to create some separation. Three-point plays by Dolezaj and Guerrier in less than a minute staked the Orange to a 20-7 lead just past the midpoint of the period and a putback by Bourama Sidibe boosted the margin to 30-10 with 4:59 left.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/1/25/mens-basketball-pitts-comeback-falls-short-at-syracuse.aspx

The Panthers, who were 6-of-26 shooting (23.1%) responded with an 11-0 spurt to get back in it. Au'Diese Toney and Xavier Johnson each hit 3-pointers to key the run and two free throws by Toney cut the margin to single digits in the final minute before Joe Girard III hit a layup for the Orange to give them a 32-21 halftime lead despite zero points from Hughes, who missed all five of his shots.”according to https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2020/1/25/mens-basketball-pitts-comeback-falls-short-at-syracuse.aspx

Tip-off is set for 9:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.