Duke vs. Virginia Tech

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Projected starting lineups:

No. 3 Duke (25-4, 12-4 in the ACC)

G Quinn Cook, So., 12.5 ppg, 5.4 apg
G Seth Curry, Sr., 16.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg
G Rasheed Sulaimon, Fr., 12.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg
F Ryan Kelly, Sr., 14.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
F Mason Plumlee, Sr., 17.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg

Virginia Tech (13-16, 4-12)

G Erick Green, Sr., 25.0 ppg, 4.0 apg
G Jarell Eddie, Jr., 11.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg
G Robert Brown, So., 8.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg
F C.J. Barksdale, So., 5.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg
F Cadarian Raines, Jr., 6.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg

Player to watch:

Seth Curry, Duke

Curry didn?t have his best game against Miami, shooting 2-of-8 from the floor and 1-of-5 from 3-point range for seven points (he did grab five rebounds, tied with Mason Plumlee for second-most on the team). Curry should benefit greatly from Ryan Kelly?s return, as defensives will focus less attention on him, freeing up more open looks and drives to the hoop.

Observations:

***Ryan Kelly didn?t have any problems with his right foot after the Miami game, Mike Krzyzewski said. Duke watched film Sunday and did a light workout Monday to prepare for the Hokies.

***When the Blue Devils reviewed the film from the Miami game, Krzyzewski tried to show his team how much more space they had on the floor with Kelly and his outside shooting abilities stretching the defense laterally.

You have to be ready to make some moves, some looks, some reads that you had on Saturday you didn't see because it was the first time in a couple months that they were there, just as a result of having Ryan run our sets and where he is on the court,? Krzyzewski said. ?So that's the type of thing, to instinctively react to the things presented which are different. It's different. So we have habits with the last 13 games that we have to adjust to now that we're doing this.?

***When the Blue Devils last played Virginia Tech, they guarded Erick Green, the nation?s leading scorer, from baseline to baseline. The plan was to make someone other than him bring the ball up the floor, disrupting the Hokies? rhythm. It worked well, as Duke won 88-56 (Green did still score 22 points, but the nation?s leading scorer is going to get his buckets). Look for Duke to do the same in Cameron, with Rasheed Sulaimon, Tyler Thronton and Quinn Cook rotating on Green.

***A win against the Hokies would make Duke undefeated at home for the third time in the past four seasons, a first during the Krzyzewski era. The Blue Devils accomplished that feat one other time, from 1961-1964 under Vic Bubas (undefeated in 1961, 1963 and 1964).

***Virginia Tech is 1-16 all-time in Cameron, with the Hokies? one win coming Jan. 6, 2007, as Duke lost 69-67 in overtime. The Hokies? nearly scored their first win two years earlier, but a Sean Dockery buzzer-beating heave gave No. 1 Duke a 77-75 win on Dec. 4, 2005. That?s also the last time fans have rushed the court in Cameron.
 

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1. Kelly factor

Scouting reports for all future Duke opponents likely got a rewrite after Ryan Kelly dropped 36 points in a victory against league power Miami on Saturday night. Kelly had missed the Blue Devils? previous 13 games after injuring his foot against Clemson in January. Once back in the lineup, he showed no rust, hitting seven 3-pointers and setting a new career high.

The meaning of Kelly?s reemergence goes deeper than just his scoring touch. With another perimeter threat, the Blue Devils are now able to get the spacing that proves so hard for opponents to deal with. It opens up looks for fellow shooters Rasheed Sulaimon, Seth Curry and Quinn Cook as well as giving center Mason Plumlee space to operate.

And unlike in his absence when Duke leaned on junior Josh Hairston and freshman Amile Jefferson ? neither of which is a top-level scoring threat ? Duke can now roll out five players capable of torching opponents.

2. Senior night

Tonight marks the final game in Cameron for four Blue Devils.

Kelly, center Mason Plumlee, guard Seth Curry and reserve forward Todd Zafirovski will be the focus of the Senior Night activities.

The quartet?s time at Duke has been eventful. Kelly, Plumlee and Zafirovski were on the 2010 NCAA title team. Curry was a redshirt that season after transferring from Liberty. The four won two ACC tournament titles and endured a stunning first round loss to Lehigh is last season?s NCAA tournament.

But in Cameron Indoor Stadium, things have been largely positive. Entering tonight, the foursome has a 62-3 career mark on the floor.

Shooting guard Andre Dawkins would have been among the group, but he redshirted this season to deal with personal issues.

3. Hello again

Duke and Virginia Tech met on Feb. 21 in what turned out to be one of the Blue Devils? most lop-sided wins of the season.

The 88-56 win was Duke?s widest margin of victory in conference play and its third-largest overall this season.

Curry scored 22 points while Rasheed Sulaimon added 17. The two combined for eight 3-pointers.

Virginia Tech?s Erick Green scored 22.

The loss to Duke was the final one in a nine-game losing streak by the Hokies. Since then, Virginia Tech has won two of three.
 
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