Overcoming their largest halftime deficit (16-points) in the Mike Krzyzewski era and even being down by 20-points with 11 1/2 minutes left in their ACC contest against the North Carolina State Wolfpack, the Duke Blue Devils (22-4, 9-2) once again dug down deep and found a way to pull out a victory over the Wolfpack, keeping them in the top tier of the ACC (along with North Carolina and Florida State). With that win, making it their third straight victory, the Blue Devils will go on the road as they will travel to the Conte Forum to meet the Boston College Eagles (8-18, 3-9) on Sunday evening. The Blue Devils will enter Sunday’s meeting undefeated on the road in league play (5-0), with a sixth straight road win making it the first time since the 2005-06 season where Duke has won six straight ACC road games. The Eagles bring in a 2-game losing streak, with their last and best win coming nearly 2 weeks ago as they took down Florida State in BC. Boston College is led by 6’8 freshman Ryan Anderson as he leads the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game and in rebounding averaging 6.9 rebounds per game. As it stands right now, the Blue Devils are in sole position of third place in the ACC (UNC and FSU both won Saturday) with a win Sunday will once again place them in a three-way tie atop the ACC with UNC and FSU. Duke will enter ranked #4 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and #5 in the AP Poll (66-24 all-time when ranked #5 in AP Poll). Sunday’s game will be televised on ESPNU with the tip-off set for approximately 6:00 PM ET.
Duke-Boston College Series
• Duke and Boston College have met 15 times heading into Sunday’s game with the first meeting between the two schools coming on Dec. 21, 1979.
• The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 13-2, including a 9-1 ledger since Boston College joined the ACC.
• Duke has won four straight and 12 of the last 13 games in the series.
• Mike Krzyzewski is 12-2 at Duke against the Eagles, including a 4-1 record at the Conte Forum.
• Seven of the 10 games since Boston College joined the ACC have been decided by 10 points or less.
• All five games in the series that have been played at the Conte Forum have been decided by 10 points or less.
• Duke and Boston College have met twice in the ACC Tournament with Duke winning both games.
Numbers Game
• The Blue Devils are coming off a 78-73 win over N.C. State on Thursday. Duke outscored the Wolfpack 37-12 over the final 11:33 of action to overcome a 20-point second half deficit.
• Duke is the only team in the NCAA to rank in the top 5 in RPI, Strength of Schedule as well as the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
• The Blue Devils are currently 5-0 on the road in league play. Duke hasn’t won six straight ACC road games since the 2005-06 season.
• The Blue Devils are 9-2 in ACC play and are one win shy of winning at least 10 conference games for the fifth straight season and the 20th time under Mike Krzyzewski.
• Duke has been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll for 89 straight weeks, the third-longest streak in NCAA history.
• The Blue Devils have had 10 or fewer turnovers in five ACC games and leads the conference with 10.1 turnovers per game in league play. Duke had a season-low five turnovers in Thursday’s win over N.C. State, including no turnovers over the final 13 minutes of play.
• Duke is 12-3 on the year in games decided by 10 points or less. The Blue Devils have five wins in ACC play by less than 10 points.
• The Blue Devils have held seven of their 11 ACC opponents to four three-point field goals or less. ACC opponents are shooting just 28.4 percent (44-of-155) from three-point range against Duke for the second lowest percentage in the conference.
• Duke has trailed at the half in three of the last four games and has had a second half deficit of 10 points or more in three of the last four contests. The Blue Devils overcame a 13-point second half deficit to beat North Carolina (Feb. 8th) and a 20-point deficit to defeat N.C. State (Feb. 16th).
• The Blue Devils average 25.1 points per game off the bench. Duke has gotten double-digit scoring from the bench in 19 of 26 games this season and the bench has scored 30 or more points in 10 games.
Duke Player Statistics
• Austin Rivers was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the seventh time overall and the fourth straight week on Monday. Rivers’ seven selections are the third most in ACC history, while his four straight selections tie three others for the ACC’s longest streak.
• Brothers Mason and Miles Plumlee combine to average 17.9 points and 16.3 rebounds per game this season. Either Mason or Miles has led Duke in rebounding in 24 of Duke’s 26 games. The duo has also combined for 19 double-figure rebounding games on the year.
• Seth Curry has scored in double-figures in five consecutive games and is averaging 18.6 points per game in that span. He is 16-of-37 (.432) from three-point range and is also averaging 4.4 rebounds per game in the last five contests.
• Austin Rivers leads all ACC freshmen in points per game (15.0), minutes per game (32.2), double-figure scoring games (22), 20-point games (6), field goals made (131), field goal percentage (.444) and free throws made (83). He ranks second in three-pointers made (45) and steals (24).
• Mason Plumlee ranks second in the ACC in rebounding at 9.9 rpg. He is also second in the league with 14 double-figure rebounding games and has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in four straight games and six of the last seven contest.
• Seth Curry scored 21 of his career-high 26 points in the 2nd half vs. North Carolina State as Duke rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat the Wolfpack 78-73.
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