No. 3 Duke has performed various stout opponents throughout the primary chunk of the schedule. Subsequent up for Jon Scheyer’s group is a neutral-site battle with No. 19 Texas Tech.
Scheyer would not need the Blue Devils sleeping on the Crimson Raiders after they meet Saturday evening in New York.
“It’ll be pretty much as good of a group that we play,” Scheyer mentioned.
Duke (11-0) will wrap up its nonconference schedule with its second sport since a break for closing exams. Texas Tech (8-3) has gained 4 of its final 5 video games.
“They have an incredible roster, nice coach, and you already know 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 Event sport for us, getting ready for neutral-site video games towards actually good groups. I am simply trying ahead to having an incredible sport as a group.”
Texas Tech is aiming to defeat a nationally ranked opponent for the primary time this season. The Crimson Raiders have misplaced to Illinois, Purdue and Arkansas.
“How we win these video games is you battle, you scrap, you compete,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland mentioned.
The Crimson 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 got to have 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 good likelihood 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 Crimson Raiders in scoring.
Star huge 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 very best gamers within the nation,” Scheyer mentioned.
However there are frustrations for the Crimson Raiders about their protection. They’ve allowed 73.9 factors per sport.
“Our battle is not what it must be on that finish,” McCasland mentioned. “It isn’t 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 damage within the second half. McCasland mentioned this week he would not anticipate Bamgboye taking part in towards Duke. He has averaged about 16 minutes per sport in seven outings.
–Area Stage Media
