How ACC rivals Duke and NC State are making ready for his or her Elite Eight sport

DALLAS — The Duke Blue Devils and NC State Wolfpack did all of their regular preparation for Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup within the South Area by way of video examine and sport planning.

Every workforce most likely may have settled for lots much less work. With each being within the ACC, the groups have performed two video games in opposition to each other in March. The campuses are separated by solely 25 miles, so the Blue Devils and Wolfpack are about as acquainted with each other as two groups could be.

“It isn’t like there are quite a lot of secrets and techniques on the market between both of us,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned on Saturday. “I believe it is fairly clear each methods.

“We have at all times had big-time video games in opposition to them, very aggressive. They’ve had their fashion of play. So have we. It should be a big-time battle no matter whether or not it is within the NCAA match, ACC match, regular-season sport. There’s at all times so much at stake and that is no exception.”

Every workforce gained one of many two earlier video games. Duke gained 79-64 at NC State on March 4. NC State returned the favor with a 74-69 victory on the ACC match in Washington D.C., two weeks in the past.

Scheyer mentioned NC State, winner of eight straight video games, is best defensively and a greater rebounding workforce than it was earlier within the season. He mentioned the most important change within the Wolfpack is that it’s now a assured group that expects to win each sport.

NC State is at instances buried by the proximity and success of not solely Duke however the North Carolina Tar Heels. Till the Wolfpack began their eight-game profitable streak, this season was a working example. The Tar Heels have been the No. 1 seed within the NCAA match’s West Area. Duke was ranked all season.

NC State wanted to win 5 ACC match video games in 5 days to get into the NCAA match.

“You must carve out your individual area,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts mentioned. “I by no means wished to be in comparison with Duke or Carolina. It is simply not who I’m. We do issues a bit bit otherwise.

“We have finished an excellent job. We’re champions … and now we have a chance to win one other championship and one other match.”

Given the expectations of the respective groups heading into the NCAA match — Duke a 4-seed, NC State an 11-seed — it is easy to conclude all of the stress is on the Blue Devils within the Elite Eight sport.

However Duke, with its roster frequently stocked with prime recruits, can fairly count on to make a deep match run once more subsequent season. NC State hasn’t been to the Elite Eight since 1986.

So this can be a once-in-a-generation probability for the Wolfpack.

“We do not take a look at it as [playing with] home cash,” Keatts mentioned. “We do assume now we have one thing to lose. I perceive that is the way it seems to be if you are available in as an 11-seed [but] these guys are right here to win.”

Here is a better take a look at the 2 earlier video games between Duke and NC State.

March 4 at NC State: Duke 79, NC State 64
Duke led 33-30 at halftime however broke the sport open within the second half. DJ Burns Jr. led all scorers with 27 factors although the Blue Devils had the sting in factors off turnovers (20-9) and factors off the bench (17-7).

March 14 within the ACC match quarterfinal: NC State 74, Duke 69
The Wolfpack this time had balanced scoring, with 5 gamers recording double figures. NC State had 21 factors off the bench; Duke had none. Kyle Filipowski led all scorers with 28 factors.