Shelden Williams scored on put-backs and created his own shot, notching a double-double by the halftime break. Virginia Tech doubled teamed Williams in the second half, allowing J.J. Redick and Daniel Ewing to score from the perimeter as Duke topped 100 points for the first time this season.
When Shavlik Randolph was introduced in the starting lineup Sunday night for the first time in a month and a half, all eyes at Cameron Indoor Stadium were on one of Duke’s frontcourt stars.
But the other one stole the show.
Shelden Williams scored 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds in the first half alone as the Blue Devils used a dominating first half inside to grab a lead before finishing off Virginia Tech (11-7, 4-3 in the ACC) from the outside in the second half. Duke (16-1, 6-1)controlled the tempo from the start and led by 25 at the break on the way to a 100-65 blowout Sunday night.
Duke shot just 3-for-11 from behind the arc in the first half, but the team was 14-for-20 from two-point range—mostly because of Williams’ dominance down low.
“The way Shelden was playing it really didn’t matter too much how we were shooting from the outside,” Daniel Ewing said. “He was doing so much damage on the inside—both rebounding and scoring—and that really opened the game up for J.J. [Redick] and myself and the other guards, especially in the second half.”
Indeed, the second half showed a completely different Duke team on the offensive end. While Williams was constantly double- and triple-teamed and only scored four more points, the Hokies left things up to Ewing and Redick, who combined for six three-pointers and 24 points in the second half. For the game, Williams, Ewing and Redick scored 71 of the team’s 100 points.
“Our three guys—Daniel, J.J. and Shelden—played extremely well,” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “If those three guys come and play like that, then we will have a chance in every game.”
With 25 points and 17 rebounds, Williams earned his 11th double-double of a season that seen him perform with more discipline than last—the often foul-prone center committed three fouls in 35 minutes of play Sunday.
“I am trying to make sure that I am on the court giving us a chance to win,” Williams said. “That is something I am focusing on all the time.”
Even though Duke ran up the score, the Blue Devils did not beat a pushover Virginia Tech team Sunday night. This was a team that had won its previous five games, including a 70-69 upset at Georgia Tech Jan. 22.
Despite committing 16 team fouls in the first 11 minutes of the game, the Hokies were within eight points of Duke at that point and had countered nearly every Blue Devil basket with one of their own. This team, despite being down by 25 at the break, began the second half with a newfound intensity and a 15-6 run to cut the lead to 16. The team entered the game ranked 17th nationally in steals and had allowed an average of only 72 points per game.
“Virginia Tech had done a heck of a job, winning four straight conference games,” Krzyzewski said. “In all of those games, the pace was really more half-court and slow. We sped up the pace and used our bench early. We thought that would cause some fouls, and it did.”
If Duke’s game plan was to get the Hokies in foul trouble, then the team was certainly successful. Virginia Tech committed 22 team fouls in the first half alone and 34 in the game. Three of the team’s starters—forwards Carlos Dixon and Coleman Collins and guard Jamon Gordon—played six, two and four minutes, respectively, in the first half.
“I am proud that our guys tried to play hard,” Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg said. “They are a very young basketball team in a very difficult environment, and I did not expect to play the first half with Carlos Dixon, Coleman Collins, and Jamon Gordon sitting next to me.”
Coming off Wednesday’s loss to Maryland and heading into a matchup against Wake Forest this Wednesday, Sunday’s game was a statement for Duke.
“This is a long season for this team,” Krzyzewski said. “We responded really well tonight, and we’re going to have to play this hard just to have an opportunity to win any game. We’ve always known that.”
NOTES:
David McClure sat out with a knee injury. He is questionable for Wednesday’s game at Wake Forest.... Redick missed three free throws. It was the first game in which he missed more than one free throw in his Duke career.... Duke closed out the first half with a 21-6 run.... Williams finished without a blocked shot for the first time this season.... Virginia Tech’s 34 team fouls were seven short of the ACC record. Clemson committed 41 fouls against North Carolina in 1998....
The 100 points were the highest total for Duke this season.... Williams had five opportunities for a three-point play in the first half.... Each of Duke’s 12 active players saw action Sunday night.... Greenberg was ejected with 4:39 left game.... Duke has lost two straight games at Wake Forest heading into Wednesday’s matchup.
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