Live Blog: Duke at Pitt
For the first time in nearly five years, Duke will take the floor as an unranked team.
The Blue Devils head to Pitt for their first game since falling from the AP Top 25, following a loss at Virginia Tech. It snapped a 91-week streak where the Blue Devils were ranked,
Duke is 5-3, 3-1 in the ACC, and will face a Pitt team that is rapidly improving into a conference contender. Pitt features ACC co-player of the week Justin Champagnie, who is second in the nation in rebounding and second in the league in scoring. He has four 20-10 games this season.
Duke will be at full strength for the first time since December 8. Freshman Justin Johnson has been sidelined since then with a foot injury. He returned to the floor for last Tuesday’s game at the Hokies but logged just four minutes as he began to work into game shape. Duke has had a week between games, giving Johnson time to get reintegrated into the rotation.
Duke could also see the return of Patrick Tape, who injured his back two weeks ago. Tape returned to practice over the weekend, so he’ll likely be available for limited minutes, much like Johnson last week.
Duke was also without freshman Henry Coleman & assistant coach Chris Carrawell for last week’s game as they served quarantine for possible COVID exposure. No update was given on their condition, but Coach K, who served his own quarantine a week earlier, said that “everyone eligible to play can play”
Johnson gets the start, along with Steward, Roach, Moore & Brakefield
Change to the lineup (or the stats feed was wrong): Steward, Roach, Goldwire, Brakefield Hurt are the actual starters
Start delayed for TV but we're ready to roll now.
Duke opens in a zone. Interesting move.
Champagnie for three, and Duke is down 6-0 early
Bad pass by Roach, Toney gets a fast break dunk. Coach K calls time. 8-0 two minutes in
Duke has been called for four fouls in the first two and a half minutes.
Duke puts together a 6-0 run, but Champagnie hits from three again to extend Pitt lead to 11-6
Steward gets a steal then throws it away trying to start a break. Duke moving too fast in transition. An earlier fast break led to a missed layup by Johnson. At the under 16, Pitt up 13-9.
Moore hits from three and suddenly, Duke is up 14-13. First Duke points not scored by a freshman
Quick segment since under 16 didn't come until 14:00. At the under 12, it's 16-14 PItt.
Hurt, Brakefield and Goldwire each have two fouls. They've combined for one point.
Tape is in the game, returning from his back injury. He promptly picks up a foul
Tape with a nice pass to a driving Johnson for a dunk. Then he apparently draws a foul that takes us to the under eight. Pitt leads 24-21
Every time Duke has tied or taken the lead, Pitt has responded immediately. At the under four, Pitt is up 32-31.
Pitt's run up to 11-0 since Hurt's three gave Duke a lead.
Champagnie for three again. He has 17 and 10 rebounds in the first half. Run is up to 14-0 and Pitt gets a steal.
Wendell Moore with a late three to keep Duke within single digits. At the half, it's 43-34.
Duke shot 5-of-18 from three in the half, attempted more threes than twos.
Pitt scored the first 8 points of the game and opens the second half with a 5-0 run. Duke down by 15 90 seconds in
Duke calls time out to save a loose ball. This will count as the under 16. Duke down 55-40.
Pitt is 5-of-7 this half.
Duke with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 10, 55-45.
Duke's run expands to 12-3. At the under 12, it's 58-52 Pitt.
Matthew Hurt scores to cut the lead back to six and hurts his left ankle as he lands. Heads to the bench.
Duke just has no answer for Champagnie. 28 points, 4-of-6 from three, 11 rebounds.
Hurt back into the game.
We're at the under eight. Pitt up 65-59 and going to the line.
Duke cuts it to five and gets an over and back on Pitt. Then Roach takes a quick long three. Not a good shot. Just like that, Pitt is back up seven.
Roach blocked on a layup attempt. Not a good couple of possessions for him
Johnson dunks then feeds Hurt for three. He's up to 21-13 and seven assists. Duke is within two. Timeout Pitt.
Johnson has four fouls, Hurt and Roach three each.
Somehow, Champagnie gets forgotten under the basket. He scores to give PItt a 72-67 lead at the under four
Coulibaly fouls out for Pitt. Could be joined by several players on both sides
Roach misses another layup. Champagnie rebounds and Jalen Johnson fouls out. Could be a dagger of a possession for Duke there. 72-69 Pitt. Panthers going to the line, 2:16 left.
Roach falls down while driving the lane. He's really struggling down the stretch. Duke calls time out to keep the ball.
Pitt cuts to the basket and scores. Duke misses. Pitt ball. Panthers up 79-73 with 23 seconds left
Roach, layup. No. Pitt ball. That should just about do it.
Pitt wins 79-73. Duke falls to 5-4, worst start for Blue Devils since 1982-83.
