Duke vs. Virginia: Blue Devils Favored to Dominate Game

SportsGrid

Watch Duke vs. Virginia: Blue Devils Favored to Dominate Game - SportsGrid on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00Let's start with the number three team in the nation.

00:02That would be the Duke Blue Devils in action on the road in Charlottesville against Virginia.

00:07There's a chance the Dukies move up in the AP poll that will be released around 1 p.m.

00:12Eastern time on this Monday, of course, with Alabama going down at home to Auburn over

00:19the weekend.

00:20Thirteen and a half points spread now in favor of Duke.

00:23Total stands at 131 and a half.

00:26This is not the Virginia basketball of old.

00:28Of course, Tony Bennett is no longer the head coach of the Cavaliers.

00:33But they are playing better basketball as of late.

00:36UVA has won four straight.

00:38Can they provide a test to the Blue Devils tonight?

00:40Yeah, you know, it's interesting, too, because you look at Virginia the past couple of games,

00:44they've actually been scoring some pretty decent numbers here.

00:46But I don't know if that's going to continue tonight.

00:48Why?

00:49Duke on offense themselves, number one in efficiency and conference play in the ACC.

00:52But what do we also love about Duke?

00:54Number one on defense in the ACC play with efficiency, which then you start to fold into

00:59and say, what does Virginia not do well in offense, Ben?

01:01Well, they don't offensively rebound the basketball all that much.

01:04And when you talk about a team that plays at that glacier pace, you better get second

01:07chance opportunities.

01:08Duke's a very good defensive team rebounding the basketball.

01:11So less putbacks here, less second chance points.

01:15Also understand this 18 teams in the ACC, 17th at getting to the free throw line.

01:20It's the Virginia Cavaliers.

01:22What if that fouling is the Duke Blue Devils?

01:24Not a great match.

01:25So already what we're saying, Ben, is you're not going to get second chance opportunities.

01:28You're not going to steal points at the charity stripe.

01:31That's going to hurt.

01:32Also keep in mind the Duke Blue Devils, number one in conference play, defending inside the

01:35arc at 43.6 percent.

01:38So for understanding this, Duke's going to win the game.

01:40Do you want to lay close to 15 points?

01:42Maybe you don't want to do that.

01:43But for me, I do look at the team total for Virginia, even bucking the recent trend that

01:47they've been scoring points under 58 and a half, because if I look at a team that plays

01:51slow, doesn't get extra rebounds, won't get to the free throw line, going up against the

01:55most efficient defense in ACC play, I don't know if they get the 60 points.

01:59I'm willing to live with the under, despite the recent performances for Virginia on offense.

02:04Duke's the best defensive team in the ACC.

02:06That should hold true tonight as well.

Category

Transcript

Recommended