PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Duke (12-3,3-1) went on an 18-4 run and then another spurt making eight straight field goals to take control of the game early and kept their foot on the gas beating Pitt (10-6, 1-4) 75-53 at the Petersen Events Center on Tuesday.
“Incredibly disappointed in our performance, I wish we could have matched the energy the crowd brought early,” said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. “We got knocked back early. They were outstanding. We looked disorganized and that’s on me. Give credit to Duke, they were outstanding.”
The Blue Devils were unstoppable in the first half, shooting 60% from the floor, 53% (9-17) from three and nearly had as many assists (11) in the first half than Pitt had rebounds (12). By comparison, the Panthers were 8-28 from the floor, outrebounded by nine and -10 points in the paint.
Same story in the second half, Blue Devils went on an early 14-2 run to dismiss any thoughts of a miracle comeback. While having a 4:30 scoring draught in the first half, the draught was 5:31 for the Panthers in the second half.
It was also the worst shooting game in freshman Bub Carrington’s short career 4-16 FG and 2-9 from three (started the game 1-12 FG) without a single free throw attempted with four rebounds, two assists and two turnovers.
Numbers
· Duke shot 52% from the floor for the game, 44% from three
· Panthers shot 33% FG, 33% from three with 10 assists and 10 turnovers
· Kyle Filipowski finished with a double-double, 26 points (11-12 FG, 4-4 from 3) and 10 rebounds
“For Filipowski to play that way. He’s a difference-maker when he plays that way for our team,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer. “I thought it totally changed the dynamic for our offense, our defense.
I don’t feel there is anybody like him in the country when he plays that way.”
· Duke dominated the rebounds 42-26 and points in the paint 32-12
· Zach Austin led Pitt with 11 points on 5-11 FG. It’s Austin’s second consecutive double-figure game.
“My dad used to say, sometimes you are the bug, sometimes you are the windshield,” Capel said. “You learn from it all. Today we were the bug. We got splattered all over the windshield.”
“Then he would say to me regardless of what happens, you have to wipe that you-know-what off and get back going. We have to learn. We have to play harder. We have to be more physical. We can’t just let guys take the ball from us.”
Ish Back
Out of the Louisville game with a shoulder injury, junior transfer guard Ishmael Leggett returned on Tuesday, but did not go back into his customary starting spot. Leggett had a string of 83 consecutive starts including every one previously at Pitt.
Leggett ended up playing 14 minutes, two points, 1-5 FG, 0-1 from 3 with an assist.
Up Next
Panthers get the weekend off hosting Syracuse at 7p next Tuesday.