Duke Blue Devils (14-5, 5-3) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (11-8, 1-7)
Game #20 • Road Game #5 • ACC Game #9 • Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 • 7 p.m. ET
Cassell Coliseum (8,925) • Blacksburg, Va.
TV: ESPN
Radio: Blue Devils Sports Network from LEARFIELD
How to Listen
Listen to Duke University live streams in the Varsity Network App
Duke is back on the road for ESPN’s Big Monday to battle Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum. The Blue Devils, playing their first of three Saturday-Monday quick turnaround sets in ACC play, are coming off a 68-66 win over No. 17 Miami Saturday at Cameron Indoor, where Duke is 10-0 this season.
The game vs. the Hurricanes was Duke’s third straight against a team that entered in first or second place in the ACC — the Blue Devils went 2-1 in that stretch.
History
Hunter Cattoor scored 31 points and went 7-9 from 3-point range in last year’s ACC Championship game win over Duke on his way to Tournament MVP honors. As a freshman, Jeremy Roach poured in a career-high 22 points in Blacksburg on Jan. 12, 2021, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 8-of-8 at the free throw line — 74-67 Hokie win.
The Series
Overall Duke leads, 51-12
In Durham, NC Duke leads, 22-1
at Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke leads, 18-1
In Blacksburg, VA Duke leads, 13-8
at Cassell Coliseum Duke leads, 7-6
Neutral Sites Duke leads, 12-2
Last Meeting Tech 82, Duke 67 (March 12, 2022)
Last 10 Games in Series Tied, 5-5
About Duke
The ACC’s best rebounding team, Duke ranks fourth nationally in rebound margin (+8.8), ninth in offensive rebounds (13.7) and 10th in rebounds per game (40.0) — leading the conference in each category. Duke has not finished as the ACC’s team leader in rebounds since 1998-99. Duke has out-rebounded 15 of its first 19 opponents and is 13-2 this season when holding an advantage on the glass. Duke is 11-2 when leading in offensive rebounding. Duke is the nation’s only team ranked inside the NCAA’s top 10 for each rebound margin, offensive rebounds and total rebounds.
Duke has held 17 of 19 teams below their season scoring average, ranking second in the ACC and 35th nationally in scoring defense (63.5) and 27th nationally in three-point defense (.295).
Freshman Kyle Filipowski, who last week was named ACC Rookie of the Week for a league leading fifth time, has scored 63 points and grabbed 43 rebounds in posting three straight double-doubles, including a monster 28-15 effort vs. Pitt to become just the third Duke freshman all-time with at least 28-15 in a game. Filipowski is fifth in the ACC, 29th nationally and leads all power conference freshmen in rebounds (9.5). His nine double-doubles are tied for third in the ACC and lead all D-I freshmen. Filipowski is averaging 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in ACC play — one of just four players averaging 15-10 in conference play.
Junior guard Jeremy Roach (right) returned Saturday from a three-game absence (toe injury) and scored 14 points with four assists and two late steals to seal the Miami win. Filling in for Roach, freshman guard Tyrese Proctor has scored double digits in three straight games, including a career-high 17 points at Clemson and 14 in the Pitt win.
About Virginia Tech
The Hokies fell 78-68 at No. 10 Virginia on Wednesday suffered a 51-50 setback at No. 19 Clemson on Saturday. VT has lost seven straight, including one in overtime, by a combined 35 points entering Monday’s game. VT is 2nd in the ACC in defensive rebounding and 4th overall in the conference. Sean Pedulla’s 15.9 points leads the Hokies in scoring, while Grant Basile (13.8) and Justyn Mutts (13.1) are the others averaging in double figures. Mutts is also the lading rebounder for the Hokies at 7.7 per game.
Hunter Cattoor, the Hokies best 3-point shooter at 40% returned to the lineup Wednesday after a four-game injury absence.
Stats Comparison
| G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 19 | 40.0 | 25.5 | 59.4 | .429 | 18.7 | 38.1 | .492 | 6.7 | 21.3 | .317 | 14.3 | 18.5 | .775 | 13.8 | 26.2 | 40.0 | 14.2 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 12.5 | 15.7 | 72.0 |
| Virgina Tech | 19 | 40.3 | 27.3 | 59.3 | .460 | 19.6 | 36.8 | .533 | 7.6 | 22.5 | .340 | 10.4 | 14.0 | .744 | 9.1 | 26.6 | 35.7 | 14.6 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 10.1 | 15.6 | 72.6 |
Probable Starters
Duke Blue Devils
G Tyrese Proctor 6’5 175lbs Fr.
F Dariq Whitehead 6’7 220lbs Fr.
F Mark Mitchell 6’8, 220lbs Fr.
F Ryan Young 6’10, 235lbs
F Kyle Filipowski 7’0, 230lbs Fr.
Virginia Tech Hokies
G Sean Pedulla 6’1, 195lbs So.
G Hunter Cattoor 6’3, 200lbs Sr.
G Darius Maddox 6’5, 180lbs Jr.
F Justyn Mutts 6’7, 220lbs Sr.
F Grant Basile 6’9, 235lbs Gr.
Thoughts
I really don’t think the Blue Devils have to do anything drastically different in this game aside from contain 3-point shooters. Make this a 2-point affair. Duke should be able to score over the top but one issue they had against the Hurricanes was finishing at the rim – that has to be corrected. Leaving meat on the bone especially on the road is a good way to leave with an L.
Rebounding will be huge, both teams are really good at boarding misses so expect some serious physicality on the glass from both teams.
Duke cannot have live-ball turnovers against the Hokies – it’s not only the points that VT can score in transition but the lack of attempts that Duke will get. For a team that has trouble scoring the ball missing opportunities to even get a shot off is a bad look. Duke also has to win the battle of second chance points against a good rebounding team in VT, with Duke shooting poorly from the field the missed shot has often been the best offense for the Blue Devils.
Things to watch for?
Justyn Mutts versatility, he’s a player that has a nice back to the basket game but has no issue taking and hitting the 3-ball, he’s not a guy that seeks that shot out but he can hit them. Lynn Kidd is a player of the bench that gives them another inside scored with some athleticism. The 6’10 junior big dropped 10 off the bench at Clemson.
