Duke is coming off back to back impressive wins over NC State and Wake Forest, but Virginia is poised to represent a much more difficult task. This game presents a massive opportunity for Duke. With a win, Duke’s NCAA Tournament hopes would again have a pulse.
Virginia is in the midst of another impressive season under Tony Bennett. The Cavaliers currently sit atop the ACC and rank 7th in the country. Virginia is coming off just their second ACC loss of the season against Florida State on Monday. With five days off before this game, Virginia will be coming into this one well rested and eager to get back into the win column.
What to watch for:
Pace of play
As is always the case with Virginia under Tony Bennett, the Cavaliers slow the pace of play to a crawl. They average just 62.5 possessions per game, the lowest mark in the country. Virginia is virtually impossible to speed up entirely, but it is important that Duke takes Virginia out of their comfort zone at times.
Three point shooting battle
Virginia is tied with Florida State for the best team three point percentage in the ACC at 39.8% as a team. Duke has been on a tremendous stretch from beyond the arc as well, shooting at least 44% from three in each of the last four games. Duke will likely need their hot shooting to continue to emerge victorious. Virginia’s top three scorers all shoot at least 43.7% from deep, so Duke will need to make every effort to eliminate clean looks from beyond the arc.
Can Duke force turnovers?
Virginia turns the ball over the 4th fewest amount of any team in the country. This is partly due to their slow pace of play, but also due in large part to how well they play together as a team. They make smart passes and rarely force the issue. While Duke must find ways to speed Virginia up and force them into bad shots, to really make them pay, Duke must win the turnover battle.
Who steps up for Duke?
Virginia is far and away the best team Duke has faced since Illinois early in the season. It is safe to expect Matthew Hurt, as consistent as they come in the ACC, will have a good game. For Duke to win this game, it will likely require strong games from multiple other players.