With three NCAA titles and an amazing nine Final Four appearances since 1986, the Duke Blue Devils hardly qualify as a NCAA tournament dark horse. But that’s what they have become this month.
No one, not even coach Mike Krzyzewski, knows what to expect when this talented, youthful bunch takes the floor. Duke starts two freshmen and a sophomore. “They’re growing up,” Krzyzewski said. “We didn’t come in a well-oiled machine, and I’m not saying we are now. But we have learned.”
The learning curve rises sharply Thursday night, when the third-seeded Blue Devils meet No. 2 Kansas in the West Regional semifinals. It’s a classic matchup of big-time hoops traditions that might normally be featured in the national semifinals, or at least a regional final.
It’s taking place in the third round this year because Duke has not been as dominant as it has in recent years. The Blue Devils finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings and lost six games, most since 1997.
When Duke dropped two of its last three regular-season games, it looked as if the Blue Devils’ postseason would be brief. But Krzyzewski shook up the lineup, creating a more perimeter-oriented squad that plays to Duke’s strength. Out came center Casey Sanders, a 6-11 senior. In came guard Daniel Ewing, a 6-3 sophomore.
Duke’s new starting five features only one player taller than 6-6. But what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quickness and scoring punch.
“We probably needed a change,” guard J.J. Redick said. “We didn’t finish the regular season playing as well as we would have liked, and Coach kind of likes to mix things up.”
The result was dramatic. Ewing tore up the ACC tourney, averaging 21 points per game to earn MVP honors as the Blue Devils swept to the crown.
Duke has reeled off five straight wins, its longest streak since it won the season’s first dozen games.
“We’re just playing with a lot more confidence,” Redick said. “Daniel’s insertion into the starting lineup really helps; it gave him a lot of confidence and opened things up for other guys.”
Scoring has not been a problem for Duke; the Blue Devils average 82 points per game, sixth in Division I. But defense has been inconsistent.
In Duke’s victories, it has limited opponents to 41.7 percent shooting from the floor. In Duke’s losses, opponents have riddled the Blue Devils at a 50.2-percent rate.
In the NCAAs’ first two rounds, the Blue Devils have limited their opponents to 35 percent shooting from the floor, and neither team managed more than 60 points.
In an uncomfortably tight 67-57 victory over Colorado State in the opening round, the Blue Devils shut out the Rams over the final 3 minutes 1 second and turned a two-point lead into a 10-point final margin.
Against Central Michigan, Duke conceded 25 points to 7-foot center Chris Kaman but neutralized forward Mike Manciel. Two nights after Manciel scored 29 against Creighton, he managed five points on 1-for-9 shooting against Duke. The Blue Devils romped 86-60.
Skeptics might say that Colorado State and Central Michigan sound like a couple of Christmas-tourney invitees. But both teams presented difficult matchup tests, and Duke passed both times.
“Those are two outstanding defensive efforts, and my feeling is our teams have advanced [in the NCAAs when] we play good defense,” Krzyzewski said.
Now, Krzyzewski is concerned about Kansas’ fast break.
After struggling to defeat 15th-seeded Utah State 64-61 in the opening round, the Jayhawks found their stride and blistered No. 10 Arizona State 108-76 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year.
Led by forward Nick Collison, guard Kirk Hinrich and swingman Keith Langford, Kansas shot 68 percent from the floor against the Sun Devils. If the Blue Devils hope to win, they may have to cut that percentage in half.
“We will be tested with an entirely different challenge defensively against Kansas,” Krzyzewski said in Durham this week. “They’re the best fast-breaking team in the country. They’re as tough offensively to defend as anybody that we’ve played thus far.”
