Fifth-ranked Duke already figured to be daunting. Coming into Philips Arena off a loss to unranked Temple made the Blue Devils an even bigger threat. Mike Krzyzewski-coached teams were 19-2 coming off losses over the past five years.
But even an 18-point lead in the first half was no indication of how Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech would go. Duke got out-rebounded, out-shot from the floor, and nobody in blue had the kind of unconscious day of Tech junior Glen Rice, who matched his career-high with 28 points.
About all Duke seemed to have going over Tech on Saturday afternoon was poise, and that’s exactly what the Blue Devils needed for an 81-74 victory. It also was what they entered the game looking to find.
“Against Temple we kind of splintered when the heat came, but today you saw at the end of the game, everybody was in it,” Duke forward Ryan Kelly said. “All that mattered was winning. We needed to have that mentality.”
Duke’s lead was cut to two points with 3:43 to go and again with only 29 seconds to go. Both times the Blue Devils had answers.
Duke’s leading scorer Austin Rivers, who had been shutout in the first half and was in the midst of a forgettable game, made a steal and layup with 1:53 to go. After a couple of misses by Rice at the free-throw line, Mason Plumlee grabbed an overzealous alley-oop pass from Seth Curry off the glass and dunked it for a six-point lead.
From there, Duke won the game at the free-throw line. Kelly made eight of eight free throws in the final 35 seconds and 14 of 14 for the game to lead Duke with 21 points.
“Our best play was to say ‘Mason, if they score get it in to Ryan,’” Krzyzewski said. “It’s the best play I called all day. Good thing they saved a seat for me on the plane. I got one thing right today.”
Krzyzewski wasn’t expecting things to come easily for his team Saturday, not coming off a loss or facing a Tech team expected to finish near the bottom in the ACC. The Blue Devils are evolving, he said. And he made a case by starting two freshmen — Rivers and point guard Quinn Cook, the latter making the first start of his collegiate career.
“I know people think of Duke as we’ve got these chiseled guys, and they’re all All-Americans right away,” Krzyzewski said. “That’s just doesn’t happen. You have to gain your experience. I thought Quinn Cook played a great game.”
Cook had 10 points, five assists and one turnover in 27 minutes. He gave Duke one of its best highlights of the day with a behind-the head pass to Rivers for a reverse layup early in the second half.
Cook said he was nervous entering the game, but he didn’t show any fear.
“I thought before today’s game, ‘How would I feel if I’m Quinn Cook, starting my first game ever in college?’” Krzyzewski said. “I think I’d be really nervous, and I didn’t see that in him. When guys do things that I know I wouldn’t have been able to do, I’m impressed by it.”
Cook came away from the experience, smiling. He said he had some fun talking it up with Rice during the game.
“He has a sense of humor and I have a sense of humor, so we were — not trash-talking — we were talking on the court; he’s a funny kid,” said Cook, who stopped Rice for a hug in the postgame handshake line. “I told him next game I better see 40 points in the box score.”
