After being demolished my Georgia Tech 74-39 people wrote Wake Forest off, obviously they didn’t write themselves off and came into this game against Duke ready and willing to stand fight the Devils, and for the most part in the first half they did. They showed signs of talent and toughness and when basketball IQ catches up they can be a team to be reckoned with. Wake was aided by some early Duke turnovers and some cold shooting by Nolan Smith who went 6 for 22 and 1 for 6 from 2 point range. Smith did, however, finish with 19 points and hit clutch shots in the second half to help Duke pull away from Wake.
Duke got a stellar performance from senior Kyle Singler who shredded the Wake defense. Singler was good for 24 points on 9 for 19 shooting and 7 rebounds. Duke also got a monster game from Ryan Kelly who seems to have found his shooting touch as of late, it seems to have clicked for Kelly who scored 20 points (a career high). Kelly was a perfect 6-6 from the floor and 4-4 from the free throw line. People keep clamoring that Duke needs to have a 3rd scorer, but the beauty of this team is that it can come from a multitude of places. Dawkins, either Plumlee or Curry are all capable and have at times put up numbers. I think that makes this team more dangerous. The defense cannot afford to ignore anyone on the floor.
Mason Plumlee while not scoring in this game, did pull down 10 boards and has been on a Zoubek like stretch of rebounding as of late. Duke will take those numbers as they can always find ways to score. Its not to say that Mason doesn’t have the talent, he certainly does, but it’s hard to be critical of him once you realize that he is a sophomore…there is still a ton of upside. Physically he can do it all, if the mental part aligns Mason will be dangerous in more than just a few stretches here and there. The elder Plumlee, Miles, has had a bit of a resurgence lately and whatever Kool-Aid the coaching staff gave Miles, Mason could use a sip. Miles has had some serious flashes of defensive and offensive brilliance. He’s playing more like a junior and earning playing time back after hitting some real lows this season. Miles finished the game with only 8 points but was 3-3 and gave Duke quality minutes off of the bench.
Duke did not play great in this game but still won by 24 points, the team still has a ways to go but it’s fun to watch the development and watch the coaching staff working magic on a team that looked a little lost a few games ago.
- Kelly shines in Duke’s 83-59 dismantling of Wake
- Duke Tames Wake Forest 83-59
- Box Score: Duke 83, Wake Forest 59
- Notes: Duke 83, Wake Forest 59
- Quotes: Duke 83, Wake Forest 59
- Ryan Kelly trying to be that “do everything†player for Duke
- Duke eases past Wake Forest
- Glory days long gone for Deacons
- NOT SO FAST, WAKE
| Duke Blue Devils | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| Kyle Singler, F | 32 | 9-19 | 3-8 | 3-4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| Ryan Kelly, F | 31 | 6-6 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Nolan Smith, G | 37 | 6-22 | 1-6 | 6-6 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 19 |
| Andre Dawkins, G | 13 | 1-3 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Mason Plumlee, F | 22 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| Miles Plumlee, F | 19 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Seth Curry, G | 21 | 1-5 | 0-4 | 4-4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Tyler Thornton, G | 22 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Josh Hairston, F | 3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |
| 26-61 | 9-26 | 22-26 | 11 | 34 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 83 | ||
| 42.6% | 34.6% | 84.6% | ||||||||||
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | ||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| Ari Stewart, F | 26 | 2-7 | 0-1 | 1-1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Travis McKie, F | 33 | 5-9 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| Carson Desrosiers, C | 31 | 2-6 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Gary Clark, G | 20 | 4-8 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
| C.J. Harris, G | 35 | 2-9 | 2-4 | 5-8 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| Ty Walker, C | 9 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| J.T. Terrell, G | 21 | 2-7 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Tony Chennault, G | 9 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Melvin Tabb, F | 16 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |
| 21-55 | 7-16 | 10-14 | 8 | 30 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 59 | ||
| 38.2% | 43.8% | 71.4% | ||||||||||
