Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski is nearing the end of his farewell tour.
Will it be one that ends with a National Championship? That’s the question Duke and their legendary coach will have another chance to answer tonight.
The Blue Devils are coming off a win over Michigan State. It was one of the best games of this year’s tournament.
Paolo Banchero has been Duke’s best player all season but it was Jeremy Roach who was the difference make against the Spartans.
Tonight Duke faces another physical defensive team in Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders are coming off a 59-53 win over Notre Dame.
In typical Texas Tech fashion, the Red Raiders proved that defense travels. They harassed Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley into a 3-14 shooting night along with 3 turnovers.
Keys:
Transition: Duke wants to play this game mainly in transition and secondary transition. Where Texas Tech and Michigan State differ is the Spartans didn’t want to play 40 minutes of half court, possession by possession basketball. The Red Raiders would love if the game look exactly like that.
65: Can you find examples of Texas Tech scoring over 65 points and winning? Absolutely. Heck they scored 97 in the first round against Montana State. But lets not get it twisted, Montana State isn’t Duke. If this game is creeping towards the 70s, that’s telling you that Duke and their different makers and making game changing/winning plays. If the Red Raiders want to win a game that has more scoring than 65, it would have to resemble Duke’s game against Virginia Tech.
Keel ’em: Trevor Keels hasn’t been “projected lottery pick” Trevor Keels since the Syracuse game. Keels is the type of player that can make Texas Tech pay from an off-the-ball perspective. It gives Duke a two-way make off of dribble penetration. A big game by Keels, especially from the three point line, would be the nail in Texas Tech’s coffin.
