Duke will search for its first victory over a ranked team this season as they head to Blacksburg to take on 20th ranked Virginia Tech. Duke will hope for a better performance than in their first two games against ranked teams this season, where they were soundly beaten by both Michigan State and Illinois.
Virginia Tech sits at 9-2 overall, with two wins over ranked teams on their resume. The Hokies have impressive wins over #3 ranked Villanova and #24 Clemson this season. Virginia Tech is currently 3-1 in ACC play. This is a team that has proven it can beat anyone in the country will be a major test for Duke.
Jalen Johnson will be available for Duke, though there is no guarantee he plays.
What to Watch For:
Free throw attempts for Duke
Getting to the free throw line has been a struggle for this Duke team. They currently rank 13th in the ACC in free throw attempts per game and have four games with 10 or less free throw attempts as a team. Duke will need to find ways to get to the line and generate some easy points against a team allowing just 64.9 PPG on the season, 6th fewest in the ACC.
Keve Aluma
The forward for Virginia Tech has been their most consistent scoring weapon this season. He is currently averaging 15.5 points per game and has scored in double figures in all but one of Virginia Tech’s 11 games. Duke will need to keep Aluma in check in this contest.
Mark Williams
Mark Williams has really struggled of late and Duke has been outscored with him on the floor in four consecutive games. He has started each of the last two games for Duke but that led to just six and four minutes played. Coach K would probably like to turn to Patrick Tape as an option at Center in this one, but he remains out. Coach K may pull Williams again quickly if he does not like what he sees early.
Turnover Battle
Duke turns the ball over 12.0 times per game, the third lowest mark in the ACC. Right above them is Virginia Tech, who turns the ball over 12.1 times per game. Whoever can make the opposition exceed their normal turnover rate will have an upper hand.
Jalen Johnson Situation
If Johnson enters the game, this would be the story line of the game for Duke. He will travel and suit up, but there is no guarantee he plays. He may be an “emergency option” in this one. If he does enter the game, the way he responds to being thrust back into things will be something to monitor. He has not played a game since December 8th.