2019 Virginia at Duke

Re-watch #11 - The Duke Basketball Project

Nov 22, 2023

Note: Video timestamps are in parenthesis and link directly to that point of the game. You can view the full game and additional resources at the bottom. Feel free to read from start to finish, skip around to different sections, toggle between the article and video links, or watch the entire game. Thanks for reading, Go Duke!

#4 Virginia (16-0) at #1 Duke (14-2)
ACC Regular Season
Cameron Indoor Stadium - Durham, NC
January 19, 2019

Why this game

This match-up is a great example of why I came up with the idea for The Duke Basketball Project and for re-watching games from the Coach K era. In college basketball, wins in March matter the most - but too many fans and media think those three weeks in March are the only ones that matter. To each his own, but I completely disagree. There are Final Four caliber games played prior to March, and teams capable of winning the National Championship can meet in the regular season as well. Duke has been fortunate to play in a ton of these games, in both the regular season and postseason, and just because a game is played in January doesn’t mean it’s meaningless - I want to remember those too.

Per the ESPN broadcast, this game was only the fourth in college basketball history to see the AP #1 team meet the #1 team in the Coaches Poll. Can you name any of the other three instances of #1 v #1? See trivia answer below. Full disclosure: I went 0 for 3. But anyway, #1 Duke against #1 Virginia seemed like a great game to start with as I resume re-watching games.

Background

Virginia came into the game as the last undefeated team in college basketball, fresh off a 22-point victory over #9 Virginia Tech. As usual, the Cavaliers were one of the best defensive teams in the country, leading the nation in both scoring defense (51.7 ppg) and opponent field goal percentage (37%).

Duke was coming off a home loss to Syracuse in overtime (Dad and I were there on his 72nd birthday). The Blue Devils would be without Tre Jones, who injured his shoulder diving for a loose ball just six minutes into the Syracuse game. Jones’ status was just the latest adversity for the young Blue Devils. Cam Reddish logged a DNP against the Orange as he became ill shortly before the tip, and Zion Williamson missed the second half at Florida State a week earlier after being poked in the eye. Thankfully, Reddish was feeling well that afternoon but Duke was now headed for 105 consecutive minutes of basketball without at least one of their fantastic freshmen starters.

Duke/Virginia had been as good as any match-up in the ACC over the last several years. These two teams had played one classic after another, including Virginia snapping a 17-game losing streak in Cameron the previous year. The last four meetings in Durham had been decided by two, one, four, and three points - this game would continue the trend.

The Teams

Virginia started Ty Jerome, De’Andre Hunter, Kyle Guy, Jack Salt, and Mamadi Diakite. Tony Bennett used Jay Huff, Braxton Key, and Kihei Clark off the bench. With Tre Jones out, Coach K elected to insert Jack White and Marques Bolden into the starting lineup to go along with Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, and Cam Reddish. Javin DeLaurier and Alex O’Connell were the only subs for Duke.

Early Action

Cam Reddish opened the scoring for Duke with a step-back three to beat the shot clock (1:40), flashing his range and versatility. De’Andre Hunter keyed the UVA offense to start the game, with seven early points. Meanwhile, Duke went to work on the offensive glass for nine second chance points, including a put back slam from Jack White (4:35). In between two dunks by Jay Huff, R.J. Barrett drilled a three from a dribble hand-off action (12:48). Duke would use variations of DHO and weave action throughout the game to help create space against Coach Bennett’s pack line defense. Zion then scored seven quick points, beginning with his coast to coast slam through four Cavalier defenders (16:05). The replay is incredible.

1st Half 7:33 - Duke 27 Virginia 22

Closing the Half

The teams would play the final seven minutes of the half evenly, led by De’Andre Hunter and R.J. Barrett. Hunter would log a dunk and a finish in the lane, before feeding Ty Jerome for a layup off a loose ball. R.J. converted two free throws, and finished twice at the rim, the first on his patented hesitation move in the paint after weave action up top (25:34). Kyle Guy capped the scoring for UVA with a tough transition finish after a Blue Devil turnover, cutting the Duke lead to 33-32. Zion put in an offensive rebound off a missed three, and then Reddish made an excellent steal on a backdoor pass. He pushed the ball up and fed Barrett for a difficult finish (32:28). Hunter and Guy paced UVA with 11 and 9 points respectively, while Zion, Cam, and R.J. had 35 of Duke’s 37 points. The Blue Devils’ 11-2 advantage in second chance points helped neutralize Virginia’s 58% shooting in the first 20 minutes.

Halftime - Duke 37 Virginia 32

Out of the Break

Finishes in the paint from Hunter and Jack Salt got the Cavaliers started, while Cam Reddish’s steal and pass ahead to R.J. Barrett for a driving finish (39:48) was Duke’s lone field goal in the first four minutes of the second half. A three from Ty Jerome cut the UVA deficit to one, before Jack White drove a closeout on the other end for an uncontested dunk (41:37) - a rarity against UVA’s pack line defensive scheme. Two free throws from Braxton Key put Virginia back in front 43-42, their first lead since the 15:56 mark of the first half. Coach K went back to hand-off action, this time from sideline out of bounds, as R.J. hit Zion and took an immediate hand-off leading to a floater in the lane. Duke was back in front but the teams would continue to jockey for the remainder of the game, resulting in 12 second half lead changes. Driving buckets from Ty Jerome, Braxton Key, and Kyle Guy came as Coach Bennett adjusted their offense. Duke had been switching every screen at every position throughout the game, so the Cavs began to run their action until getting a favorable switch (e.g. Bolden guarding Guy on the perimeter) and then spreading floor to create driving opportunities. R.J. hit it ahead to Zion streaking for a layup, illustrating their unique explosiveness to be able to run after a made basket (46:45). Speaking of unique, the 6’7” 285 lb. Williamson drove to his right down the lane, split three defenders, and flipped in a lefty scoop as he was fouled (48:00). Zion missed the free throw but would convert two from the stripe after stealing a pass and driving the length of the floor. After a nice no look assist from Ty Jerome, R.J. Barrett faked a dribble hand-off with Reddish and answered with a strong reverse layup (53:29). As expected, Jerome immediately responded with a quick floater as the clock ticked under the ten minute mark.

2nd Half 9:45- Duke 52 Virginia 53

Winning Time

Zion continued to assault the rim, this time tipping home his own miss with a quick second jump (54:20). De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish each split a pair of free throws and, on Virginia’s next possession, Coach K changed to a 2-3 zone in order to eliminate switching and driving lanes for the Wahoos. Duke’s length in the zone proved effective, limiting the UVA offense to just four made free throws and zero made field goals over the next 4:10 of game action. However, the Blue Devils turned it over a couple of times and could only manage a single bucket from R.J. Barrett for the most of that same stretch. With both offenses slowing down, Zion delivered a sensational block and finished on the other end to give Duke a three-point lead, the largest for either team in almost ten minutes (1:02:46).

2nd Half 6:04 - Duke 59 Virginia 56

Two free throws from Braxton Key, and two missed free throws from Zion Williamson, had the game back down to one-point before Ty Jerome deflected the ball out of bounds as Cam Reddish drove to the hoop. Coach K elected to call timeout to setup what he wanted baseline out of bounds. Zion came off a screen, cut down the middle, sealed De’Andre Hunter under the backboard, and received the pass from Barrett for an easy two-hand slam (1:07:00). Hunter responded by finding a gap in the Duke zone and using a shot fake to get Williamson in the air, briefly breaking Virginia’s drought from the field.

2nd Half 4:23 - Duke 61 Virginia 60

The teams traded turnovers before Zion passed on a three and gave it back to Barrett out top. R.J. used a ballscreen from Marques Bolden, split the defenders with a spin, and finished off the window over Hunter (1:10:03). The Blue Devils were fortunate Kyle Guy then missed on an open three, rebounded by Reddish. Of course, I had been hanging on the edge of my seat for the last hour (and was probably very sweaty as well), but a three-point lead and possession of the ball felt huge at this point in the game.

2nd Half 2:39 - Duke 63 Virginia 60

Coach K elected to use a little clock as Barrett held the ball just over halfcourt. This time down, Duke would spread the floor instead of setting a ballscreen. R.J. drove left down the middle on Kyle Guy, fading away as he banked in the shot and was fouled - Cameron went nuts (1:10:53). The free throw rolled off but it was now a two possession game.

2nd Half 2:18 - Duke 65 Virginia 60

Reluctant to give up a three-pointer with the margin now at five, Duke went back to man. Ty Jerome settled for a long three-point attempt but it missed long. R.J. got back into lane again but lost the ball on the way up. Duke recovered but Reddish had to force a long three of his own to beat the shot clock. It didn’t catch iron and was corralled by De’Andre Hunter.

2nd Half 1:19 - Duke 65 Virginia 60

Hunter brought the ball into the front court and was able to crossover and get to the rim. Zion challenged him late, but it was enough to influence a miss. Marques Bolden grabbed the rebound and was fouled for a one-and-one opportunity. Despite not having attempted a shot all game in 33 minutes of action, Bolden calmly sank both free throws.

2nd Half 1:09 - Duke 67 Virginia 60

Ty Jerome split a pair of from the stripe after he was fouled on a drive. UVA had to foul again, this time sending Barrett to the line with Duke in the double bonus - he drilled them both. The Cavaliers had now gone over nine minutes with only one made field goal.

2nd Half 0:44 - Duke 69 Virginia 61

As expected, a team of Virginia’s caliber would continue to play until the final whistle. Kyle Guy found Braxton Key for a quick dunk and Zion missed a pair of free throws. Guy then used an elevator screen to perfection, banging home a three (1:21:00). As was the case for over 14 minutes of the second half, it was a one possession game again.

2nd Half 0:23 - Duke 69 Virginia 66

The Cavaliers fouled quickly, sending R.J. Barrett back to the line. With his confident, icy stare, R.J. made them both. Braxton Key was fouled rebounding De’Andre Hunter’s missed three, and he made two free throws of his own to extend the game once more.

2nd Half 0:08 - Duke 71 Virginia 68

This time, it was Cam Reddish who was fouled - he made the first, but his second attempt went in and out. Virginia rushed the ball up the floor but Braxton Key lost control momentarily. De’Andre Hunter picked it up and hit a long (and thankfully meaningless) two at the horn.

Final Score - Duke 72 Virginia 70

Postgame

After the game, Coach K remarked “Wow, that’s a high-level game. That’s a big-time game. They don’t get much better than that. The kids on both teams, every possession, was good. If you scored, you beat good defense; if you didn’t score, good defense beat you. Every possession was high-level. Obviously, I’m proud of my guys and my team….They could’ve won, and we did. That was really high-level and efficient, and the crowd was great. Overall just a really classy game, and we’re ecstatic that we won.”

The Stats

The All-American duo of R.J. Barrett (30 points) and Zion Williamson (27 points) carried Duke offensively, combining to go 22 of 35 from the field while Cam Reddish added 9 points and 8 rebounds. Virginia’s excellent trio of De’Andre Hunter (18 points), Kyle Guy (14 points), and Ty Jerome (14 points) kept pressure on the Duke defense all evening, and Braxton Key chipped in 11 points off the bench. Despite going a combined 5 of 31 from behind the arc, both teams finished the game shooting better than 50% from the field, including Duke’s blistering 63.2% in the second half (see additional resources below for the full box score).

Big Picture

The rematch in Charlottesville may have been even better, and it felt like these two teams could meet twice more, a la Duke/Maryland in 2001. Duke took the ACC Tournament for a record 15th time under Coach K. Virginia beat Auburn 63-62 in the Final Four, before capturing their first National Title with an 85-77 (OT) victory against Texas Tech on Monday night to finish 35-3. Congratulations to Coach Bennett and his team on a terrific season, no doubt they were worthy champions. Zion & R.J. would go 1st and 3rd overall in the NBA Draft that spring - their season in Durham will always be a special one to me and I love those guys. Reddish would go 10th, along with Cavaliers De’Andre Hunter (4th), Ty Jerome (24th), and Kyle Guy (55th).

Trivia Answer

#1 California (AP) vs. #1 Cincinnati (Coaches) - March 18, 1960
Cal 77 UC 69

#1 Wisconsin (AP) at #1 Ohio State (Coaches) - February 25, 2007
Wisc 48 OSU 49

#1 Oklahoma (Coaches) at #1 Kansas (AP) - January 4, 2016
OU 106 KU 109 (3OT)

Full Game