No. 3 Duke has performed various stout opponents throughout the primary chunk of the schedule. Subsequent up for Jon Scheyer’s crew is a neutral-site battle with No. 19 Texas Tech.
Scheyer does not need the Blue Devils sleeping on the Pink Raiders after they meet Saturday night time in New York.
“It’ll be nearly as good of a crew that we play,” Scheyer mentioned.
Duke (11-0) will wrap up its nonconference schedule with its second sport since a break for ultimate exams. Texas Tech (8-3) has received 4 of its final 5 video games.
“They have an ideal roster, nice coach, and you realize that is going to be one in every of our hardest video games the entire season,” Duke freshman standout Cameron Boozer mentioned. “It is an NCAA Match sport for us, getting ready for neutral-site video games towards actually good groups. I am simply trying ahead to having an ideal sport as a crew.”
Texas Tech is aiming to defeat a nationally ranked opponent for the primary time this season. The Pink Raiders have misplaced to Illinois, Purdue and Arkansas.
“How we win these video games is you combat, you scrap, you compete,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland mentioned.
The Pink Raiders would be the fifth nationally ranked opponent to fulfill Duke. One of many Blue Devils’ victories got here towards Arkansas.
Scheyer reached the 100-win mark this week when the Blue Devils defeated visiting Lipscomb 97-73. With a 100-22 file, he is the quickest to 100 wins amongst any ACC males’s basketball coach in historical past.
There have been glitches for the Blue Devils within the Lipscomb sport. They trailed by 10 factors within the first half and dedicated a season-high 22 turnovers.
“It is one thing we have to take a look at, be higher,” mentioned Boozer, who offered 26 factors and 13 rebounds for his sixth double-double. “And (in) New York is a superb probability to show it round and bounce again.”
Scheyer mentioned it was a lesson for the Blue Devils.
“That is an instance, once more, of how we’d like everyone able to go,” he mentioned.
Duke sophomore middle Patrick Ngongba II turned in his first profession double-double with 10 factors and 11 rebounds.
Texas Tech beat visiting Northern Colorado 101-90 on Tuesday, marking its highest-scoring sport of the season. LeJuan Watts tallied 36 factors, marking the primary time he has led the Pink Raiders in scoring.
Star massive man JT Toppin has reached the 30-point degree 3 times this season for Texas Tech whereas averaging 21.9 factors per sport. Christian Anderson has three double-doubles, every involving factors and assists.
“They’ve two of the perfect gamers within the nation,” Scheyer mentioned.
However there are frustrations for the Pink Raiders about their protection. They’ve allowed 73.9 factors per sport.
“Our combat is not what it must be on that finish,” McCasland mentioned. “It is not a scheme subject — it is an effort subject. We’ll go deeper within the bench. If it prices us offensively, it prices us.”
Texas Tech additionally has issues concerning the standing of Luke Bamgboye, who left the Northern Colorado sport with a noncontact harm within the second half. McCasland mentioned this week he does not anticipate Bamgboye taking part in towards Duke. He has averaged about 16 minutes per sport in seven outings.
–Area Stage Media
