For the first time since 2010 the number 4th ranked Duke Blue Devils have clinched at least a share of the ACC regular season title – defeating PItt 86-56. With the win Duke also secured the number one see in next week’s ACC tournament. A win on Saturday, in Coach K’s final game at Cameron, would give the Blue Devils their first outright regular season title since 2006.
Beginning the game on a 16-3 run, that included shooting 4 of 5 from downtown, Duke let the rest of the ACC and country know their starting to click at the right time – March.
Duke had four double digit scorers, led by freshman stud Trevor Keels who had a season high 27 points. Potential ACC Player of the Year and NBA lottery pick Paolo Banchero scored 21 points, on 7 of 10 from the field – including 3 of 3 from deep.
Efficiency and team defense were the stories at Pittsburgh with the backcourt of Moore, Keels and Roach combing for only one turnover.
The Panthers shot just 5-18 from downtown (27.8%), and 42% from the field. Duke’s largest lead of 33 was yet another indictor they’re hitting their stride right before an emotional contest in Coack K’s last home game in the stadium he built – Cameron Indoor.
Team Notes
- Mike Krzyzewski is in his 42nd season as Duke’s head coach and his record is now 1,123-306 at Duke, and 1,196-365 overall in this, his 47th season overall.
- The win ensures Duke is the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament and clinches the Blue Devils at least a share of the ACC regular season title.
- It marks the program’s 18th all-time No. 1-seed in the ACC Tournament (12th under Coach K) and first since 2009-10.
- It marks the program’s 20th ACC regular season title (13th under Coach K) and first since 2009-10.
- The win was Coach K’s 201st – and final career – ACC road victory, which extends his ACC record.
- Duke’s eight-game road winning streak is the longest active streak by a power conference team.
- Duke has won eight consecutive ACC road games – its longest streak since winning eight straight in 2011-12.
- It is just the fourth streak of eight games or longer in school history – three have come in the Coach K era. The streak is surpassed by only Duke’s ACC record streak 24 consecutive conference road wins between 1998 and 2001 and a 14-game streak from 1962 to 1964.
- Duke’s margin of victory in its 10 ACC road games this season (9-1) is +14.2 points, the second largest ACC road scoring margin for a season in school history.
- Duke’s 19 points allowed in the first half were its second fewest allowed in any half this season – 14 in the first half at Notre Dame on 1/31/22.
- Duke finished 11-of-22 from three-point range and is 26-of-54 (.481) from three-point range over the last two games.
- Duke turned the ball over just six times for the second straight game and has recorded just 20 turnovers over its last three games – all on the road.
- Duke has now connected on at least one three-point field goal in 1,144 consecutive games – the nation’s second longest active streak.
Player Notes
- Freshman Trevor Keels scored a career-high 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting and a career-best 5-of-8 from three-point range.
- It marked Keels’ third 20-point game this season and 19th double-digit game. Duke is now 18-1 when Keels scores in double-figures.
- Freshman Paolo Banchero recorded his second consecutive 20-point game with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three-point range. Banchero has hit 7 of 10 from three over the last two games.
- Freshman AJ Griffin scored 12 points and seven rebounds for his 18th double-figure scoring game this season. Duke is now 17-1 this season when Griffin is in double figures.
- Duke is now 12-0 this season when both Griffin and Keels score in double figures in the same game.
- Griffin has scored in double figured in seven consecutive games.
- Junior Wendell Moore Jr., was Duke’s fourth player in double figures with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists (one turnover). It was Moore’s power-conference leading 12th game this season with at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.