Mason Plumlee and the Blue Devils pulled out a rare ACC road win at Wake Forest. Credit: CHUCK LIDDY
Every Saturday, the News & Observer takes a look around the ACC. That also provides an opportunity to check in with the Blue Devils and look for any emerging trends.
After Duke’s tight win at Wake Forest, head coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked about winning big versus winning close games, and the clearly exasperated coach cut the question off.
“It means the other team probably died. If you won by 20 in this conference it means that the team that lost cooperated,” Krzyzewski said.
There’s no doubt that Duke was cooperative in Miami’s 27-point win last week, as Krzyzewski himself (along with Jay Williams and Dick Vitale) questioned the Blue Devils’ fight. There have been five other wins by 20 or more points this season in the ACC, and none of them have come on the road. Duke has two of those victories—68-40 vs. Clemson and 84-64 vs. Maryland.
There have only been road wins by 10 or more points this year, and the biggest was Virginia’s 74-58 win at Virginia Tech. Road wins, in general, have been rare this year, as home teams are 31-13 in ACC play, but for any team to catch first-place Miami, they are going to be necessary.
“We welcome being on the road,” Krzyzewski said earlier this season. “You’re going to have to play half your games there, so you might as well like it.”
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Comments
Season
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 19:27 — rslam1111State will finish the ACC with a losing record.
maybe
Sun, 02/03/2013 - 10:15 — SurferCertainly possible, but I kinda doubt it. They have a veteran team this year. They can look either really terrible or really good. They missed a great opportunity by losing to Miami yesterday though. I was surprised that they were a 1 point favorite, but hey, I guess the bookies know something.
Thanks surfer
Sun, 02/03/2013 - 11:01 — JPDOhioI doubt it as well. As tough as these recent losses have been, this is a different (much better) team than we have seen in past years. The Pack's remaining schedule is favorable and the emergence of Tyler Lewis can only make them better as the season closes out.
NC State Basketball
Sat, 02/02/2013 - 19:26 — rslam1111NIT here we come. State needs to seriously consider leaving the ACC.
NCAA
Sun, 02/03/2013 - 10:18 — SurferI think they will make the tourney this year, unless they lose a key player for the rest of the year. Will they win more than the 2 games they won last year though? Honestly, I think it depends on where they are seeded.