Blue Devils Pounded by NC State 84-60

The Blue Devils were set to play the Wolfpack in PNC Arena to try and even out their ACC road record – the only problem is they never got off the bus. The Blue Devils were a complete no-show verses NC State and were summarily thrashed and embarrassed by the Pack. The game was virtually over in 10 minutes as the the Wolfpack went on a 20-2 run to begin the game. State wasted no time completely snatching the souls of the Blue Devils with tenacious defense, free flowing offense and a toughness that took Duke completely out of the game.  

It wasn’t as if the Blue Devils didn’t have opportunities but an offense that was rendered completely inept by the State defense. Dukes inability to play a possession without turning the ball over as well and their lack of shotmaking doomed any hope of making this game respectable.  At times it looked like Duke was playing the part of the Washington Generals against the Harlem Globetrotters.  Defense that was a huge part of Duke’s early identity seemed to be opted out of against NC State, the Blue Devils still didn’t communicate defensively on perimeter switches, managing to leave open shooters and had no answer for State in the paint or the mid-range.

In all honesty the only stat of note for the Blue Devils, aside from the lopsided score ( 84-60)  and turnovers (21)  of which the Wolfpack used to score 30 points. 

The Bad

The bad was pretty much the entire game, the Blue Devils had no answers and that spanned the entire 40 minutes. The road for the Blue Devils gets no easier with 4 of their next 6 games on the road.  Duke will need to improve point guard play immediately – whatever that means for the staff – they have very little time to figure it out.

 DUKE HEAD COACH JON SCHEYER 

Opening Statement: 

“Well obviously that was not a good night for us and a great night for them. Congratulations to [NC] State, they outplayed us really in every facet. Their guards controlled the game, they outfought us. We knew they would be a really hungry team coming off a couple of tough losses and we’ve known they were a dangerous team. They’ve been right there with some of the best teams in the country and we have a lot of respect for them. But that was not a good enough performance or effort on our part and that’s on me. Unfortunately there have been moments I’ve been through as a player and coach where you have a night like this, and it’s not okay. It’s not okay to have a night like this. For…