Duke is quickly becoming accustomed to trying to defend an undefeated tournament record.
Last week, the No. 7 Blue Devils (6-0) captured the Maui Invitational crown, pushing them to a spotless 12-0 record on the island. Tonight at 9 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke takes on No. 20 Wisconsin (5-0) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Blue Devils are 8-0 in the event and are the only team in either conference with a perfect record.
But Duke's continued success in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge will not come easily. The Badgers are the biggest team that the Blue Devils have faced this season, starting four players who are 6-foot-7 or taller. Duke's starters, on the other hand, average 6-foot-5-nearly two and a half inches less than the Badgers.
"We have to alert our guys," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "They'll be kind of knocked back, I think, with [Wisconsin's] size. They are really a big team. When I say that, they can maneuver well. It's not like they're big and slow. They're big [and] mobile."
Senior centers Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma, both 6-foot-11, combine for 18.8 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. They lead an experienced Wisconsin team that will present the young Blue Devils with a challenge unlike any other they have faced yet this year. Krzyzewski said the Badgers are the biggest and most physical team Duke has played. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, hope their athleticism counteracts their lack of size.
"Our kids are hungry," Krzyzewski said. "They're unselfish, they play hard, they like each other. They just need to get experience at playing together. We're not this big, physical team, but we have pretty good athletes and a lot of interchangeable parts on the defensive end."
On that side of the court, Duke will have to find a way to contain Wisconsin's swing offense, which places priority on the post players being able to handle the ball. This game is the first-ever meeting between the Blue Devils and the Badgers, so Duke does not have any direct experience dealing with the Wisconsin attack.
"The fact is they have some older guys, so they're accustomed to doing it," Krzyzewski said. "It's a different offense than is run in our league. It's a good, interesting offense where they end up posting some of their perimeter guys. They do it well. It's not that easy to take their stuff away."
In Bo Ryan's seven years at the helm, it has been very difficult to take the Badgers off their gameplan. Wisconsin has established itself as one of the best teams in the Big Ten, compiling a 147-55 record under Ryan.
"Bo's really one of the top coaches in the country," Krzyzewski said. "Since he's been at Wisconsin, they have a culture-a winning culture-and a winning system."
The Blue Devils will look to disrupt the Badgers with their torrid shooting. Taylor King exploded for 27 points Sunday against Eastern Kentucky, but Duke's offense does not necessarily have to come from the freshman sharpshooter.
"We have a really good shooting team," senior captain DeMarcus Nelson said. "Everyone can shoot the ball. That's one of our strengths. We have bigs that can shoot the three, also."
As a team, the Blue Devils are shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc, including a combined 45.2 percent from big men King and Kyle Singler. Duke is currently second in the ACC in shooting at 51.7 percent.
The Blue Devils have also received increased bench production so far this season-33.3 points per game, compared to 14.4 in 2006. King and Jon Scheyer are both averaging double figures off the bench, and each has contributed to Duke's streak of having a 20-point scorer in every game this season.
Duke will need that offensive production against a stingy Badger defense that has only allowed 45.6 points per game.
The Blue Devils, however, have some history on their side. In addition to their perfect record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, they have won their last 54 non-conference home games. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is just 51-50 on the road under Ryan, and like every Big Ten team except Michigan State and Michigan, has a losing record in the conference challenge.
"They have a system, they believe they can win, and they usually do," Krzyzewski said. "It'll be a hell of a game for us."
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