For the second game in a row, the Blue Devils showed that indeed they are the same defensive team they were earlier in the season. After 5 straight games where the Blue Devils allowed their opponents to shoot 50% or better from the field for an entire game – something had to give. Jon Scheyer predicted that something would click during the West Coast kick part of the season, and he was indeed correct. After showing a renewed interest in defending against Cal, the Blue Devils put on a defensive masterclass at Stanford.
It all began with Dame Sarr sticking to the ACC’s best scorer, Ebuka Okorie, like glue. Sarr used his length and athleticism to pressure the Okorie and make life difficult for the freshman. Sarr’s pressure on the crafty guard as well as Duke’s overall defense also took away Okorie’s ability to set up his teammates. Coming off a game against North Carolina where he dropped 36 points and 9 assists, Okorie was held to just 9 points and 1 assist with 4 turnovers.
Duke followed up a dominant 35-19 first half that saw them hold the Cardinal to under 30% shooting with a second where they outscored Stanford 45-31 to cruise to a 30-point victory.
Cameron Boozer controlled the game from start to finish, scoring 30 points and pulling down 14 rebounds for the Blue Devils. Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II joined Boozer in double-figures, scoring 15 and 13, respectively. The Blue Devils allowed just 1 double-figure scorer in the game, holding the Cardinal to just 35% shooting for the game and 25% from 3-point range. The Blue Devils also forced the normally sure handed Cardinal into 18 turnovers that Duke used to scare 22 points. Duke also dominated in paint points, with a 44-20 advantage over the home team.
Whatever magic Jon
The Blue Devils not only notch another quad 1 victory, but stay undefeated in ACC play at 6-0, tied with Clemson for the conference lead. Finishing arguably their most complete game of the season, the Blue Devils return home to Cameron to face Wake Forest beginning a 2 game homestead.