Virginia Pummeled By Duke 73-48 in Another Costly Lopsided Road Loss
Before 10 minutes had elapsed, the Cavaliers had already dug themselves a 16-point hole. And though three quarters of the game were still to be played, anyone who has followed Virginia men's basketball this season knew it was already over and that the rest of the contest didn't really need to be played or witnessed.
For in most of UVA's losses this season, including and especially those that came on the road, the Cavaliers have had a debilitating habit of building early double-digit deficits and then letting things get even more out of hand over the course of the game, producing more than a few ugly final scores.
Although it was crucial that Virginia at the very least avoid such a devastating blowout with its NCAA Tournament hopes hanging in the balance, Saturday night's game in Durham proved to be more of the same. No. 10 Duke (23-6, 14-4 ACC) was dominant from the opening tip, building a lead as large as 25 points in the first half and pummeling Virginia (21-9, 12-7 ACC) 73-48 on Saturday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Most of UVA's problems this season have stemmed from an inability to score the basketball. The Cavaliers have the nation's third-ranked scoring defense after all. But it didn't look like it against Duke, as the Blue Devils sliced and diced the Virginia defense with ease immediately, making eight of their first ten shots and getting high-percentage looks almost every trip down the floor.
"We were a little bit rocked in the first half... we were a little bit shaken up offensively and defensively and that can't happen now. We can't get off to those slow starts," said Ryan Dunn.
Duke used a 12-2 run to build a 19-6 lead, prompting a Tony Bennett timeout. But shortly after, Virginia endured a drought of nearly 10 full minutes of game time without a made field goal, scoring only five points on free throws during that stretch. With their defense smothering UVA, the Blue Devils made sure to capitalize on the other end, hanging 40 points on Virginia in the first half on 58.6% shooting, including 28 points in the paint. Kyle Filipowski paced Duke with 15 points, including a highlight-reel windmill dunk. Virginia, meanwhile, made just six shots in the first half on 23.1% shooting.
The second half wasn't as bad offensively as the first for the Cavaliers, who shot 37.9% from the floor and made four three-pointers after halftime. But Virginia never threatened to make it a game, trailing by at least 20 points for the duration of the half.
"I thought in the second half, we fought a little more," said Isaac McKneely. "We didn't lay down. The offense was flowing a little bit better in the second half."
Though no longer scoring at the meteoric level of the first half, Duke continued to execute at a fairly high level offensively, shooting 40.6% from the field in the second half and building a lead as large as 29 points before cruising to the 73-48 win.
Kyle Filipowski led Duke with 21 points and seven rebounds and Tyrese Proctor had 15 points and five assists for the Blue Devils, who shot 49.2% for the game, won the rebounding battle 42-29 and scored 44 points in the paint.
Virginia shot 30.9% from the field and 5/17 from three. Reece Beekman had 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, and Isaac McKneely had 12 points, while Ryan Dunn had nine points and six boards.
"This has happened to us a few times this year. If our defense isn't sound and we're playing a team that has the firepower like Duke, you can get separated quick," said Tony Bennett. "We've had a few games where we've gotten beat handily and that's a humbling place to be."
Each of Virginia's nine losses this season have come by double digits and this was the fifth time that the Cavaliers have lost by at least 20 points. The 25-point margin of defeat was UVA's second-largest of the season, with the worst being a 34-point blowout defeat at Virginia Tech. Those sizable margins of defeat, rather than the quantity or quality of the losses, may ultimately be what keeps Virginia out of the NCAA Tournament.
Up next, Virginia has the week off before wrapping up the regular season next Saturday at 8pm against Georgia Tech at John Paul Jones Arena.
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