No. 2 Duke men's basketball overcame a second-half deficit by switching to a 2-3 zone defense, securing a 63-56 win against Wake Forest. Cooper Flagg led the Blue Devils with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Duke men's basketball team secured a hard-fought 63-56 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday, overcoming a six-point second-half deficit in a game that tested their resilience. The No. 2 ranked Blue Devils, known for their offensive firepower, struggled to find their rhythm in the second half, allowing Wake Forest to mount a 23-4 run and take the lead.
Facing a challenge unlike anything they had encountered in nearly three months, Duke coach Jon Scheyer turned to an unexpected defensive tactic: a 2-3 zone defense. Scheyer revealed that Duke had only run the zone for one possession all season and hadn't practiced it extensively. But in a moment of strategic brilliance, he implemented the 'curveball' late in the game, and it proved to be a game-changer. The zone defense stifled Wake Forest's offense, forcing them into numerous missed shots and holding them to just 11 points in the final nine minutes. Duke's star freshman player, Cooper Flagg, led the charge with an impressive performance of 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Flagg's versatility and ability to impact the game in multiple ways were evident as he made clutch plays throughout the contest. While Duke coach Jon Scheyer acknowledged the team's sluggish offensive performance, he praised Flagg's exceptional play and the team's ability to overcome adversity. This victory served as a valuable lesson for Duke, demonstrating their ability to win games even when they are not firing on all cylinders
Duke Blue Devils Wake Forest Demon Deacons Cooper Flagg Zone Defense ACC Basketball
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