Knee will sideline Duke's Marvin Bagley III for 2nd straight game
- by Carole Baillairge
- in Divertissement
- — Fév 15, 2018
"Thankful, for sure, for the result", Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said.
Bagley missed Sunday's game at Georgia Tech with a mild right knee sprain he suffered on February 8 in the Blue Devils' 82-78 loss at North Carolina.
Freshman forward Wendell Carter Jr. picked up the slack in the interior for the Blue Devils, posting 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in his return to his hometown of Atlanta.
"They have some of the best players in the country, including the best player in the country [Bagley]", Williams said. "One, he's just a big guy".
The status of Duke freshman forward Marvin Bagley seems uncertain after he sat out Sunday night's 80-69 road victory against Georgia Tech as a precaution because of a mild knee sprain. In the case of tonight's Virginia Tech-Duke clash, it would appear as though the wiseguys are attacking the favorite. (14.4) and Trevon Duval (11.1).
"We really played the same way offensively", Allen said. 14 North Carolina by double digits January 22.
"I don't know that having more than one priority is what's best for our group as of now". Defensively, Virginia Tech yields 73.2 points per game against the opposing teams.
Virginia Tech continues to practice with a focus on defense after scoring big wins over Virginia and N.C. State, which came largely because of its intensity and execution on that end of the floor. But after winning at UVa last weekend and playing at Kentucky in December, the Hokies might not be unnerved by Cameron Indoor Stadium.
"I think both of those places mirror the ambiance at Duke", said Williams.
In the wake of a 1-3 skid that included back-to-back losses to St. John's and North Carolina, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski shook up his starting backcourt Sunday.
On the season, Duke basketball averages 88.8 points, 42.6 rebounds and 18.4 assists per game. However, Duval logged 25 minutes to O'Connell's 22.
"We felt like we needed to do something different".
Bagley has given Duke a few scares throughout the season.
Duke senior guard Grayson Allen said the Blue Devils tried to keep their normal approach even without Bagley.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book YouWager, the Blue Devils are now 11.5-point home favorites to beat the Hokies on Wednesday night. Allen, who averages 14.6 points, finished with 23 points.
Bolden would likely start again if Bagley can't go. "It worked. We got off to a really good start".
"They're a great team, they're well-coached and they have some phenomenal players", Trent said of the Hokies.
The Hokies are ranked third nationally in field-goal percentage (51.4 percent).
What sort of challenges do the Hokies pose for a Duke defense that allows an average of 72.6 points? "Certainly they're very unique because they drive the ball like insane and they can really, really shoot the basketball".
Six players are averaging at least 8.6 points per game for Virginia Tech, they are Justin Robinson (13.8), Justin Bibbs (13.6), Kerry Blackshear Jr.