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Duke Goes Down: 5 Reasons Why the Blue Devils Were Upset by Virginia Tech

Doug BrodessJun 4, 2018

Seth Greenberg and his Virginia Tech Hokies needed a signature win to help position themselves for Selection Sunday.

And win, they did. 

Tech beat ACC rival, No. 1 Duke, 64-60 in Blacksburg.

This was the Hokies third win vs No. 1 teams in the last five seasons.

Here are five reasons why the Blue Devils were upset by Virginia Tech

Tech Held Duke to Sub-40 Percent Shooting from the Field

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CORAL GABLES, FL - FEBRUARY 13: Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils passes the ball against the Miami Hurricanes on February 13, 2011 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, FL - FEBRUARY 13: Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils passes the ball against the Miami Hurricanes on February 13, 2011 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Tech held Duke to 39.7 percent shooting on the night as the Blue Devils hit only 23-of-58 attempts from the field.

Even though Kyle Singler (pictured), finished with 22 points, he went 6-19 from the floor.

Tech Held Duke to 20 Percent Shooting Beyond the Arc

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The Blue Devils were 5-20 from three-point range.

Kyle Singler hit one-of-seven from downtown; Nolan Smith missed all three of his threes.

Ryan Kelly (pictured), not the sharpest of the Blue Devils sharpshooters, missed all four of his three-pointers.

Tech Outrebounded Duke

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 12:  Victor Davila #14 of the Virginia Tech Hokies is blocked by Julian Gamble #45 of the University of Miami Hurricanes in their quarterfinal game in the 2010 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 12,
GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 12: Victor Davila #14 of the Virginia Tech Hokies is blocked by Julian Gamble #45 of the University of Miami Hurricanes in their quarterfinal game in the 2010 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 12,

Throughout the season, Duke's interior play has been questioned.

The Hokies beat the Blue Devils on the boards 42-35.

Jeff Allen led Tech with 15 rebounds, while Victor Davila added 10 more boards

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Tech Limited the Blue Devils to Six Assists

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 22:  Nolan Smith #2 of the Duke Blue Devils in action during the CBE Classic game against the Marquette Golden Eagles on November 22, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 22: Nolan Smith #2 of the Duke Blue Devils in action during the CBE Classic game against the Marquette Golden Eagles on November 22, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Normally, Duke players find the open man to set up the open shooter.

On the season, Duke assists on 54 percent of their made field goals.

Tonight, Tech forced the Blue Devils into trying to do it on their own. They only had six assists for the game—26 percent of their made field goals.

Nolan Smith (pictured) led Duke with two assists.

All of Tech's Starters Scored in Double Figures

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WINSTON-SALEM, NC - JANUARY 21:  Teammates Dorenzo Hudson #5 Cheick Diakite #34 and Malcolm Delaney #23 of the Virginia Tech Hokies watch on as a teammate shoots free throws to defeat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 78-71 during their game at Lawrence Joel
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - JANUARY 21: Teammates Dorenzo Hudson #5 Cheick Diakite #34 and Malcolm Delaney #23 of the Virginia Tech Hokies watch on as a teammate shoots free throws to defeat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 78-71 during their game at Lawrence Joel

Duke's defensive strategy seemed to be to shut down Malcolm Delaney and let the rest of the team beat them if they could.

They did.

Each of the Hokies' starters scored in double figures:

  • Jeff Allen: 18 points
  • Terrell Bell: 12 points
  • Erick Green: 12 points
  • Victor Davila: 11 points
  • Malcolm Delaney: 11 points

The fact that each of these players stepped up in this huge game speaks well of their potential to move forward from here to finish the regular season and have momentum in the ACC tournament.

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