Coach K on Georgia State: They Were Tougher Than We Were By Far
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was not pleased with his team in the first half, as the Blue Devils struggled with a veteran Georgia State team.
“I thought they were tougher than we were by far in the first half,” Coach K said. “We were not ready for that level of intensity from our opponent, and they played with that intensity throughout.”
The Blue Devils were able to adjust, however.
“Obviously, in the second half, we matched or exceeded it,” Krzyzewski said, “and that’s why we won. … The second half, I thought we played with the intensity and the will to win that you need to. In the first half, I thought we were outplayed and fortunate to be up by two, really. So, we learned a lot tonight. We learned another way to win.”
Point guard Tre Jones scored a career high 31 points, and freshman Vernon Carey Jr. had a career high 20.
“Tre was magnificent. Vernon Carey, not just for a freshman big guy but for a big guy, he had a hell of a game. He really played well. And Jack White (10 rebounds) gave us a huge boost toughness-wise. Really, really good. And Joey [Baker] came in in the first half for a little bit. In the second half when they went zone—a little set that we run, we know that he’s going to get a shot in the corner—and he hit two of them in a row that made [the lead] from 10 to 16.”
