LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As Isaac McKneeley’s contested 3-pointer ricocheted off the rim right to Duke’s Dame Sarr with just under 14 minutes left in the Blue Devils’ 84-73 win vs. Louisville on Tuesday, Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey turned and slammed both hands on the courtside table behind him.
Kelsey could see a potential marquee victory slipping away from the Cardinals and had some frustration to let out. Duke had outscored Louisville 14-6 in the second half and was methodically taking control in a critical ACC battle the Cardinals once led by 12.
Just 15 seconds later, the defensively resurgent Blue Devils took their first lead en route to a victory that established No. 6 Duke firmly atop the conference pecking order.
The No. 20 Cardinals, who started 7 of 10 from 3-point range to ignite a crowd of 17,656, went cold in the second half. By the two-minute mark, Louisville fans streamed toward the exits, resigned to Duke extending its winning streak in the series to eight.
Star freshman Cameron Boozer turned in another dominant performance with 27 points and eight rebounds to lead the Blue Devils, and coach Jon Scheyer was quick to note that “what he’s doing is unbelievable.”
But as great as Boozer was, and as great as the 43 points from the supporting duo of Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster were, Tuesday’s result stood out for something else entirely.
Duke’s defense, which was mired in its worst stretch since Scheyer’s playing days, rediscovered its identity.
“They were as explosive as any offense we’ve played this season,” Scheyer said. “No question about it. The game really came down to, I think our defense in the second half was terrific.”
Duke’s return to the basics
During their 11-0 start, Duke ranked No. 6 in defensive efficiency. But something changed in the second half of an 82-81 loss against Texas Tech on Dec. 20, as the Red Raiders shot a blistering 62.1% while erasing a 17-point deficit.
The shoddy defense continued in uncomfortably close wins over projected ACC bottom feeders Georgia Tech and Florida State over the past week. Those three games marked the first time since February 2009 that Duke allowed three consecutive opponents to shoot 53% or better.
“We’ve gone through it,” Scheyer said, adding that the Blue Devils spent Monday working on “basic defensive drills” for the sake of rebuilding good habits.
“Guarding the ball, moving as the ball moves and being in a stance,” Scheyer explained, rattling off principles that might also be taught at Scheyer’s summer youth camps.
Even after that return to the basics, it was more of the same in the first half at Louisville, as sharpshooter Ryan Conwell drilled his first three 3-pointers. Then, reserve center Aly Khalifa got in on the fun by hitting his first three 3-pointers as the Cardinals opened up a 26-14 lead.
“In that first half, he just settled us,” Scheyer said. “If he didn’t do that, it could have gotten out of hand.”
The freshly settled Blue Devils regrouped at halftime and showed why they must be regarded as a Tier 1 threat to win the national championship.
