The Duke Blue Devils and the Clemson Tigers meet in an ACC Tournament semifinal matchup at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Duke has had a great run this season, leading the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Blue Devils are 30-2 overall and 17-1 in the conference. They haven’t lost a single game at home and enter this matchup on a nine-game winning streak, the most in the entire conference.
The Clemson Tigers, on the other hand, are fifth in the conference with a 24-9 overall record and 12-6 in the conference. They’re currently on a three-game winning streak and are coming off a thrilling 80-79 win against UNC.
Both teams will give 100% to win the semifinal matchup, but injuries could trouble them along the way. It can be argued that the Duke Blue Devils are going in with a weaker roster, as they have more players on the injury report.
Caleb Foster – Out – Foot
Patrick Ngongba II – Out – Undisclosed
Ifeanyi Ufochukwu – Out – Undisclosed
Sebastian Wilkins – Out – Redshirt
The Tigers, on the other hand, have just two players on the injury report. Both have been ruled out of the game.
Trent Steinour – Out – Undisclosed
Zac Foster – Out – Knee
Ngongba went for the Florida State Seminoles matchup wearing a walking boot and on knee scooters. Although he was there to support his teammates, who ended up winning 80-79, the visuals were concerning for fans.
Foster suffered a fracture in his right foot in the Blue Devils’ 76-61 rivalry win against North Carolina. He underwent surgery on Sunday and is out for the “foreseeable” future.
Duke Head Coach has Improved the Program
Jon Scheyer took over the Duke Blue Devils program after Mike Krzyzewski’s legendary 42-year run. Being the successor of Coach K comes with a pressure that very few people can understand.
However, Scheyer, who worked with the Blue Devils during Coach K’s tenure, has elevated the program. As per Randolph Childress, the team is better defensively than it was under Coach K.
“As great as Coach K is, I think Duke defensively under Jon Scheyer has been better,” he said. “I think it’s been significantly better, and I don’t really care what anybody else says… I’m not speaking derogatory towards Coach K at all, but if you watch Scheyer’s teams, everybody would be like, ‘Yo, they defend.’”
Childress specified that he wasn’t taking shots at Coach K and it was just his observation.
Read More:
No. 1 NBA Draft Prospect AJ Dybantsa Makes His Feelings Clear After Getting Snubbed for Big 12 Honor
Will BYU Make March Madness? AJ Dybantsa’s Chances At NCAA Tournament Explored
AJ Dybantsa’s Snub for Big 12 Honor Infuriates Fans As Arizona’s Jaden Bradley Suffers Criticism
Jeremy Fears Jr.’s Antics Evoke Clear Message From Tom Izzo In Fiery Post Game Conference
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
