To beat Duke on Sunday, Georgia Tech must defend the 3-point line, according to coach Paul Hewitt.
It's not that simple.
Iman Shumpert must try to control Duke's Nolan Smith, a favorite for the ACC player of the year. The Yellow Jackets (11-14, 3-8 ACC) must get contributions from redshirt freshmen Daniel Miller and Kammeon Holsey, who Hewitt says are starting to tire toward the end of this up-and-down season.
Lastly, the Jackets must overcome the mystique that is Cameron Indoor Stadium. Regardless of the venue, over the past year, the Jackets simply haven't won on an opponent's court.
"They're one of the top-five teams in the country," Hewitt said of Duke. "They shoot the ball really well. It'll be a tall task for sure."
Job No. 1 is to slow the Blue Devils' 3-point shooters. This season, Tech's opponents are making an ACC-best 38.1 percent of their 3-pointers. Duke (24-2, 11-1) leads the conference in that category, at 39 percent.
Because Duke spaces itself so well on offense, Tech's defenders can't get caught watching the ball. They must watch their man or Smith, who leads the ACC in scoring (21.4) and assists (5.4), will find a teammate for the back-door cutter or the kick-out 3-pointer.
"He's quicker now than I've ever seen him," Hewitt said.
When they aren't worried about allowing 3-pointers, Miller and Holsey must deal with Mason and Miles Plumlee, Kyle Singler and Ryan Kelly. Holsey lost his starting spot against Chattanooga, with Hewitt starting senior Lance Storrs instead. Since scoring 18 points in the conference opener at Boston College, Holsey has scored 23 in the 10 games he has played since.
And if that's not enough, the Blue Devils have won 33 consecutive home games, including 11 of their past 12 against Tech. The Jackets have lost 14 consecutive games on an opponent's court.
But senior Moe Miller said the team feels good after breaking its five-game losing streak with Wednesday's home victory against Chattanooga and are especially looking forward to playing at Duke.
"It gives you a little bit more energy," he said.
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