State of the ACC: Let’s all welcome our new overlords from Virginia

Sophomore guard Ty Jerome played a critical role in the Cavaliers’ 12th consecutive triumph, stealing an outlet pass in the final minute and sinking a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left for a 63-58 lead.

With the Fighting Irish missing several key players and the Red Storm having lost their past 10 in a row, the Blue Devils can ill afford to look past those two teams to a rivalry contest against North Carolina on February 8.

“We’re in really good shape”.

Virginia won 61-36 on Tuesday night at home against No. 18 Clemson, marking the fewest points ever allowed by the Cavaliers against a ranked opponent.

Part of the reason for Duke’s switch to zone in the second half was so its starters wouldn’t have use as much energy during Virginia’s long possessions.

Allen said the game against Virginia will be a physical one, and the team will have to realize that from the start.

“We weren’t getting stops like we thought we were going to, (and we) let that affect our offense a little bit”.

The Cavaliers and Blue Devils had met 169 times before Saturday but only twice with the brunt force of this one.

“Honestly, it’s basketball”, Bagley said.

“There was a lot going on, trying to push it – push, push, push”.

And things seem to be coming together at the right time.

Redshirt senior, Dennis Gustafson, stayed hot from Friday night and claimed a 10-4 win over Josh Finesilver at 133.

The key could be whether the Cavaliers can keep Duke’s elite front line – led by freshman big men Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter Jr. – in check, whether that’s keeping them off the offensive glass or making it tough for guards Allen and freshmen Trevon Duval and Gary Trent Jr.to rotate the ball and to prevent them from passing into the post. Duke was hemorrhaging turnovers all game. They used a 17-4 run to tie the game less than six minutes into the second half and led by as many as four with just over 10 minutes left. “Their offense beat our defense, but they also wore us down, so our offense wasn’t as poised in the first half”.

The Cavaliers won despite shooting 6-of-22 from beyond the 3-point arc and 39.4 percent overall.

“He’s a big-shot taker and big-shot maker”, Hall said of Jerome. “It won’t happen again, I can tell you that”.

“Think about the great players we have had a chance to see”.

Wins by David McFadden and Jared Haught sandwiched Zavatsky’s ninth consecutive bonus-point victory, a 10-1 major decision over Chris Weiler, gave the Hokies enough points to combat Lehigh’s attempt at a rally, which was fuelled by Jordan Kutler’s technical fall win over Cody Hughes at 174, which had narrowed the match to 13-11.

“You’ve got to move the ball”.

“That serves us well”, Krzyzewski said.

Syracuse has talent, and obviously one of the best coaches in the game.

Arizona (18-4, 8-1 Pac-12) had a four-point lead after Ristic hit two free throws, but Utah’s Justin Bibbins hit a three-pointer with 4.3 seconds to pull Utah (12-9, 4-5) within one.