Duke Blue Devils Relentless Second Half Defense Key in Win over Cardinals

Facing its largest deficit of the season, the Blue Devils found themselves down nine at halftime after a hot-shooting Cardinals offense connected on 10 of 21 attempts from beyond the arc before the break.

Louisville stretch big man Aly Khalifa put significant pressure on Duke’s stretch-five coverage, knocking down five triples and forcing the Blue Devils to extend their defense—an area opposing coaches have increasingly targeted over the past three contests. Defensively, the Blue Devils wore down the Cardinals forcing just 2 makes on 17 attempts in the second half.

During Monday’s ACC coaches call, Jon Scheyer emphasized the need for improved defensive effort, calling recent performances unacceptable after the program ranked among the nation’s elite defensively throughout last season.

Duke has been hurt by guards consistently penetrating off the dribble, as well as pick-and-roll actions that pull Cameron Boozer away from the paint and limit his shot-blocking presence.

"photo courtesy of Duke Athletics"

The freshman standout helped maintain separation during difficult scoring stretches, finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals. As defenses continue to key in on Cam, it remains pivotal for the Blue Devils to get consistent production from their core.

Sharpshooter Isaiah Evans stayed hot, pouring in 23 points while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc, along with six rebounds and four steals.

"photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated"

Junior guard Caleb Foster put the finishing touches on the victory with a strong second half, knocking down several late possessions to give the Blue Devils the cushion they needed to improve to 3–0 in conference play.

"photo courtesy of Duke Athletics"

Up Next for Duke is a home tilt against the SMU Mustangs Saturday at 2:00pm.