The Wolfpack was looking to make a move Saturday to try and follow up its most complete game of the season Tuesday against the Pitt Panthers. The only problem was Duke’s talented underclassmen had something else in mind. After a terrific first-half shooting performance, the Wolfpack dropped its 6th ACC game of the season Saturday afternoon to the Duke Blue Devils 88-78 at PNC Arena.
The recent play of the Wolfpack (11-9, 1-6 ACC) gave hope that maybe the team was turning a corner after a dreadful start to conference play. The Blue Devils (15-5, 4-3 ACC) were looking to avoid a four-game losing streak after dropping their last two home games. Needless to say, Duke had its way Saturday fueled by a dominant second-half performance enroute to a victory.
The Blue Devils opened up in a 2-3 zone defense with the hope of at least trying to contain junior Anthony “Cat” Barber. Duke also used a full-court press to try and slow down the pace of the game.
Going into the game, the obvious advantage for State came down low on the post. Aside from senior Marshall Plumlee, the Blue Devils didn’t have anyone big enough to match the size of the Pack’s front court.
Duke was doing everything right defensively in the first half, but the difference was when it forced the Pack to take that tough shot at the end of the shot clock, State was making it. Eventually the Pack’s three-point shooting caught fire and couldn’t be stopped.
The Wolfpack made six-straight three pointers in the first half, and considering the Pack’s troubled three-point shooting this season, it was surprising to say the least.
“They were shooting it confidently,” sophomore Abdul-Malik Abu said. “They weren’t really hesitating and they were falling and it got us on a roll.”
Barber had a terrific first half for the Pack. Shooting 6 for 9 and scoring 14 points, Barber’s performance propelled the Pack to a 43-36 halftime lead over the Blue Devils.
“He’s so dangerous,” Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “He’s really damn good.”
The Wolfpack shot 42.9 percent from the floor in the half including a ridiculous 6 of 9 from three-point range.
Sophomore Grayson Allen led the way for Duke in the first half, scoring 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Freshman phenom Brandon Ingram tacked on another 10 points for the Blue Devils.
“He’s a good player,” Cody Martin said when asked about Duke’s Ingram. “He’s long, can shoot threes, get to the rack, got great vision and can pass the ball. He can just do it all and that’s what makes him special.”
Unfortunately for the Pack, the streaky three-point shooting was just that as the second half brought shooting woes galore for the Pack.
Duke’s zone defense was suffocating in the second half and seldom let the Pack get the ball down low. Junior Lennard Freeman wound up getting most of the touches in the paint for the Pack, but he optioned to pass it back out rather than post up and attack the basket.
“They just played harder than we did in the second half,” Cody Martin said. “I’m not gonna say we didn’t play hard, but it seemed at the second half at the beginning [Duke] wanted it more.”
Despite the troubled shooting, the Pack was able to hang around in the second half, remaining within striking distance until the final minute. State’s defensive pressure was nowhere near what it was in the first half either.
“Defensively we just kinda came out slow,” Abu said. “They came out hot. I, myself, picked up two quick fouls so that put momentum in their favor.”
Abu’s foul trouble led the Pack to lose its front court influence, and that didn’t bode well for its chances.
Allen and Ingram continued to be the go-to scorers for Duke in the second half. The two underclassmen seemed to make everything, regardless what shot they took. Plumlee also began to hold his own down in the post for the Blue Devils, grabbing crucial rebounds and scoring several second-chance points down the stretch.
“Duke played extremely well in the second half,” Gottfried said. “They shot the ball extremely well, they gave us all kinds of trouble in the second half.”
Barber took a hit to his thigh during the second half and was playing with a small limp the rest of the game.
“That point forward in the game we were a different team,” Gottfried said. “I don’t think he scored after [the injury.] That hurt us a lot. Obviously we need everyone at full strength.”
Barber led the Wolfpack with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Cody and Caleb Martin, freshman Maverick Rowan, Abu and Barber all scored in double figures for the Pack.
Duke’s Allen and Ingram had 28 and 25 points respectively and shot a combined 21 of 33 from the field.
The Pack returns to action Wednesday at PNC Arena against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as it tries to avoid another ACC loss.
Head coach Mark Gottfried sits with his team at a time out to draw up the next play during the 88-78 loss to Duke on January 23rd in PNC Arena.
