Duke Blue Devils Hang on Against Virginia Cavaliers to Win Second Straight ACC Tournament Championship
In a battle that featured the top two teams in the ACC all season, the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils were able to pull out a close 74-70 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday night in Charlotte to secure back-to-back ACC tournament titles.
Defense Does Indeed Win Championships
When looking at the high-level defense being played in tonight’s game, it’s no wonder the outcome of the game was essentially in doubt until the final two minutes, as both teams’ defenses controlled the majority of the game. Neither team shot particularly well from the field, as Duke shot just 38% from the field, while Virginia shot a hair better at 44% from the field.
Much of the reason for the low efficiency on offense was due in part to how both teams shut off the paint tonight, with the Blue Devils just narrowly edging out the Cavaliers 34-32 from close range. Virginia had one man to thank for that almost impenetrable paint defense in Ugonna Onyenso, who set an ACC tournament record with 9 blocks in tonight’s game. Onyenso was a monster in the paint all tournament long for Virginia, as he averaged over 6 blocks per game in their three games in Charlotte.
Onyenso’s unrelenting presence at the rim also forced Duke’s superstar freshman, Cameron Boozer, into the worst shooting performance of the season. Boozer would score 13 points on just 3 for 17 shooting from the floor, a rare bad performance from arguably the most consistent player in the nation. Boozer would make up for that poor shooting in other areas of the game, as he grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 8 assists. Boozer’s performance tonight would ultimately secure him the ACC tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.
Isaiah Evans Comes Up Clutch for Duke
With the paint sealed off for Duke for the entirety of the game, the Blue Devils looked to stretch the Cavaliers’ stout defense with some quality outside shooting, and Isaiah Evans answered the call when Duke needed him most. Evans would knock down 4 of the Blue Devils’ 8 total threes in the game, while finishing with a game-high 20 points in the win. Evans would also make some critical plays down the stretch, as he knocked down 4 straight free throws in the final two minutes to give Duke a slim 72-70 lead heading into the final minute of regulation.
That slim lead would stand firm over the final minute, as the Cavaliers were unable to tie or take the lead on their final two possessions of the game, with the Blue Devils top-ranked defense flexing its muscles in the final stand. The Cavaliers got sparse offensive production overall in the game, as both Sam Lewis and Malik Thomas were the only players to score in double figures for Virginia.
Thomas would serve as the x-factor for the Cavaliers in the second half, as his tough shot-making and 17 points helped to keep Virginia within striking distance until the very end. Lewis’s two-way versatility was also vital for the Cavaliers’ championship chances in the game, as he scored 17 points and notched 2 steals and 2 blocks in a solid performance overall.
Duke Snags NCAA Tournament Number One Overall Seed with Championship Win
While the Blue Devils’ NCAA tournament hopes were never in question, their chance at securing the top seed in the big dance wasn’t as strong. Duke’s resume ranks amongst the best in the country, with teams like Arizona and Michigan being the only two other teams to have as stacked a resume as the Blue Devils. After the Wildcats secured the Big 12 tournament championship against Houston earlier today, the Blue Devils needed a win tonight to prevent losing out on the top seed in March Madness.
Following their win and the subsequent clinching of the number one overall seed, the Blue Devils have essentially secured themselves as the championship favorite heading into next week. While Selection Sunday will iron out the path that lies in front of Duke on their side of the bracket, the Blue Devils will be the top dog in the tournament once again.
