Duke basketball’s loss to Miami on Monday was higher than the outcomes of an emotional hangover.
Nonetheless, there have been some noticeable excuses to be made:
It had solely been 48 hours since a really highly effective, or on the very least most significant win of the season. The Blue Devils had exorcised demons on Saturday with a 63-57 win over North Carolina. So, it bought right here as no shock that after what was sure to be a late night of celebration, no comply with and a matchup in direction of a top-20 group that had not misplaced at dwelling, Duke acquired off to a sluggish start in direction of the No. 17 Hurricanes.
Nonetheless excuses get earlier, and the Blue Devils acquired whupped. The 81-59 loss was a self-implosion that led to 21 turnovers which resulted in a poor capturing night, notably from the 3-point line. Duke entered the game as probably the greatest offensive rebounding group throughout the ACC nevertheless misplaced the battle on the offensive glass to the undersized Hurricanes, 16-12. Miami accomplished with 24 second probability components to Duke’s 9.
“It’s highly effective. It’s not easy. Nonetheless it’s what it is a should to do. And on the end of the day, they (Miami) carried out Saturday too,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “And so, there’s no excuses. That’s part of participating in throughout the ACC. That’s part of participating in big-time college basketball.”
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As a one-off? Sure, this loss was no giant deal. Even when it was notably painful to watch. Duke (17-7, 8-5 ACC) stays to be solely two video video games behind Clemson for first place throughout the Atlantic Coast Conference with seven video video games remaining, along with Saturday’s battle in direction of No. 8 Virginia. The Blue Devils might have ample time to rearrange sooner than coping with the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, and it appears to be like they’ll have freshman Dariq Whitehead once more throughout the lineup.
Nonetheless what is basically worrisome, and what time may not have the power to restore, is what this loss continued to disclose: an lack of capability to play good basketball on a quick turnaround.
The ultimate time the schedule known as for Duke to play on a Monday after participating in two days earlier, Virginia Tech knocked off the Blue Devils, 78-75, in Blacksburg. After beating Pittsburgh 77-79 at dwelling on Jan. 11, Duke suffered a 72-64 loss to Clemson three days later. The equivalent issue practically occurred after an 84-60 loss to NC State on Jan. 4. The Blue Devils merely survived a 65-64 freeway win over lowly Boston College on Jan. 7. The loss to Miami strikes Duke to 2-5 on the freeway this season.
Avenue woes aside, it’s a foul sign for the upcoming ACC and NCAA Occasion. Teams ought to have the power to adapt quickly with out dropping a step. Certain, touring gained’t be as big of a component, nevertheless Duke has however to look comfortable exterior the confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium.
There’ll most likely be in the end between the first and second rounds of the NCAA Occasion, the equivalent for the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. The Final 4, the place Duke hopes to be as soon as extra for the second straight time, takes place on April 1 with the nationwide championship on April 3.
There’s even a lot much less time between video video games on the ACC Occasion.
“It’s part of rising up and learning learn the way to place collectively the equivalent method – no matter who you’re participating in, no matter the place the game is at,” Scheyer said. “And that’s what this sport was all about. It wasn’t about as loads about executing. To me, it was regarding the focus, the battle, the ability. To return out in direction of a extraordinarily good group, we now have two freeway video video games this week in direction of two of probably the greatest teams in our league. It’s an excellent various. Nonetheless it is a should to come back out on the same stage no matter the place you could be.”
