While many view this season as an unprecedented low in the modern era of Duke basketball, it actually bears many similarities to the last time the Blue Devils missed the NCAA tournament in 1995.
After falling to the Cardinals on Saturday, one can only hope that Duke brings the same amount of passion and energy to play Georgia Tech on Tuesday.
The two are undoubtedly talented, and yet they’ve been unable to both produce signature performances during the same game.
With a sizable, roaring crowd, back-and-forth action and big time moments, ACC basketball in Louisville truly felt like something close to normal in the sport. Even if Duke fighting for its NCAA tournament life isn’t close to that.
We bring you five observations from the first 20 minutes of play in what is shaping up to be a close one.
The Blue Devils enter the contest looking to snap a two-game losing streak and pick up their best win of the season to date.
“The more hungry team is going to win,” Steward said. “This game we gotta be serious. Strictly business, no goofing off, nothing.”
A team that has amassed zero meaningful wins all year no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt to make it in.
This isn’t going to be a season in which Duke makes a run at the Final Four, but questioning if this team even makes it to March Madness is a bit too far.
Although Duke fell to Pittsburgh for its second loss in a row, there was one Blue Devil who came out victorious Tuesday night.
The inconsistent start to the season continued for Duke against Pittsburgh.
Matthew Hurt entered Tuesday night’s game against Pittsburgh as the frontrunner for ACC Player of the Year. The Panthers’ Justin Champagnie had other ideas.
Duke made the voters look smart throughout the first half Tuesday, trailing 43-34 entering the break.
The Blue Devils enter the contest as 2.5-point favorites.
After Duke fell out of the AP Poll Monday for the first time since 2016, a win in Pittsburgh is essential if head coach Mike Krzyzewski and company want to get the season back on track.
Duke fell out of the AP top 25 for the first time since 2016.
The sophomore wing has been streaky on both ends throughout his second year in Durham.
After too many sloppy shots in the last three minutes, Duke couldn’t finish, leaving fans feeling our one word: disappointment.
Duke stormed back against Virginia Tech to trim an 18-point deficit to just one. From there, everything fell apart.
Cassell Coliseum is notorious for rattling young Duke teams, with the Blue Devils entering Tuesday night's contest having lost three of their last four games in the usually deafening arena. Even with the crowd size greatly reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions, Duke still succumbed to defeat at the hands of the Hokies.
