After winning a thriller against then No. 1 Syracuse, No. 6 Duke welcomes struggling Virginia Tech to Cameron Indoor Stadium Tuesday night. The Hokies come in losers of 12 of their last 13 games, with the last one coming in a seven-point defeat at home against N.C. State on Saturday. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, look to come out strong before they rest until their March 5 matchup at Wake Forest. Here are tonight's keys to the game if Duke is to keep the winning streak alive:
Stay on task
Coming off an emotional 66-60 win in their highly anticipated matchup against Syracuse, it is only natural for the Blue Devils to now relax until their rematch with North Carolina on March 8. However, this is exactly what visiting Virginia Tech is hoping for. Expect for the Hokies to come out strong to start the game and pressure the Duke ball-handlers. If the Blue Devils overlook their opponents, expect a nerve-wracking game where any thing can happen. After all, Boston College proved just last week that upsets can happen in the ACC.
Make the free ones
Despite shooting 72.5 percent from the free-throw line on the season, Duke’s performance has been subpar at the charity stripe in its past three games. The Blue Devils shot 50.0 percent, 58.3 percent, and 52.0 percent against Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Syracuse respectively. Duke should get to the line often against the Hokies, as Virginia Tech will look to slow the game down to keep pace with the Blue Devils. If Duke continues to struggle at the line, then the Hokies will have a chance to hang around and make the upset late in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Limit second chances
The Hokies come into Tuesday night’s matchup posting a mere 65.2 points per game and 41.1 percent from the field on the season. If Virginia Tech has any hope of keeping pace with the Blue Devils, then it will need multiple opportunities on possessions. The Hokies do perform well on the glass, where they average 37.8 boards per game. Limiting these rebounds, especially on the offensive end, will be key for Duke in the ACC showdown. Without second chances, the Blue Devils should be able to pull away early.
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