Ferocious Defense Has Duke Looking Like a Legit NCAA Title Threat

HOUSTON — Two months ago, Miami (Florida) point guard Angel Rodriguez told a national television audience that he was confident his team could beat the Duke Blue Devils because of the way "they play." 

What Rodriguez really meant was the way they defend. 

The Blue Devils were exposed by North Carolina State and Miami for two straight losses in January. They couldn't stop penetration. They couldn't guard ball screens. Their defense had more holes than swiss cheese. 

It might just be time to put that narrative to bed. 

On Friday night in Houston, the Blue Devils played their third straight masterful game on the defensive end in a 63-57 win over Utah in the Sweet 16 to advance to meet Gonzaga in the South Region final on Sunday. 

"We've been a good defensive team all year except on a few occasions," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "You know, they've gotten a bum rap really for not being able to play defense. We wouldn't win over 30 games unless we're playing good defense. 

"In the tournament, we've played outstanding defense." 

That's not hyperbole. 

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For three NCAA tourney games, Duke has held opponents to 0.86 points per possession, per KenPom.com, a number that over the course of the season is almost Kentucky-esque. 

This tournament has been about Kentucky and dreaming up scenarios of how a Wildcats opponent could make the perfect season go caput.

Duke has the offense to at least challenge that Kentucky D. You need to have shooters. Duke has shooters. You need to be able to penetrate and then pitch it out to get good shots. Duke does that about as well as anyone. And you need to have someone who can score against all t­­­­­­hat length inside. If there's anyone out there capable, it's Blue Devils freshman Jahlil Okafor. 

But Kentucky's also pretty darn good offensively, with a couple guards who can carve up weak perimeter defense. Duke in mid-January would have had no shot. 

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Heck, Duke in mid-January wouldn't have had the goods on paper to be a champ in any year. Every champion in the era of KenPom.com—that dates back to 2002—has been in the top 21 in adjusted defensive efficiency. 

In Duke's first four ACC games, Duke allowed 107.5 points per 100 possessions, per KenPom.com. Over the course of the entire season, that number would rank between Morgan State and Cal State Northridge, two teams that combined to win 16 games. 

"We were 2-2 in the conference and going into Louisville, our backs were against the wall," Quinn Cook said. "Your season can go both ways. People were comparing us to NBA teams—we were like 12-0—and we got complacent and lost two in a row. We got the edge back, and we've been playing with that edge all year." 

It is Krzyzewski's job to defend his guys—hence the "we've been a good defensive team all year"—but even he realized back in January that something had to change. He uncharacteristically adopted a zone defense to end the losing streak at Louisville. He eased up on some of Duke's patented pressure D, giving his guards a break. 

In mid-February, he took Amile Jefferson out of the starting lineup and moved Justise Winslow to power forward. 

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Winslow is on his way to the MOP in the South Region—he went for 21 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal against Utah—and his presence and versatility has completely changed Duke's ceiling on that defensive end. 

It's easier to hide Okafor and allow him to simply protect the rim because of Winslow. Coach K has also found ways to hide guard Tyus Jones. 

And the Devils are playing with so much confidence defensively that they can once again get out and apply pressure. 

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Friday's game changed when Coach K went to a full-court press late in the first half after Utah star point guard Delon Wright went to the bench with his third foul. 

The Blue Devils sensed vulnerability, and they pounced, forcing two straight turnovers. They held Wright, one of the best penetrating guards in America, to 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting and only two assists. 

This made Okafor's six measly points—only the second time he hasn't been in double figures this season—and the fact that the Devils knocked down only three three-pointers meaningless. 

In January, that combination would have added up to an "L." 

But the team that wins pretty can also win ugly now. 

And about that defensive efficiency number…

The Devils entered Friday night ranking 44th in that category. They're now 27th. 

They're inching closer to championship-level, and they're now two wins away from presenting a real challenge to perfection. 

C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.