Duke Blue Devils down Marquette Golden Eagles
The Duke Blue Devils were able to advance to the final of the CBE Classic with an 82-77 win over the Marquette Golden Eagles.
The Blue Devils have had a strong start to the year and currently sit at 4-0 and are ranked number one in the AP Top 25 Poll and the Coaches Poll. Last year’s champions are favoured to repeat this season
and so far have looked the part early in the 2010-11 season.
Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles were expected to struggle in the difficult Big East Conference. However, Marquette has been able to get out to a strong start, currently sitting at 4-1. Nevertheless, their
biggest test will come when they enter into conference play.
The Blue Devils took the lead four times only to have the Golden Eagles battle back and tie the game. However, after Marquette clawed back to tie the game at 57 in the second half the Blue Devils went
on a 9-0 run and did not look back the rest of the way.
“I thought we started out well, got a 23-9 [lead], but we didn’t build on it. It was almost like we got happy, like it was just going to come. Those kids from Marquette they started turning us over,”
Duke head coach Mike Kryzewski told the Associated Press. “...I thought the best seven minutes of the game were from the three-minute mark to the 10-minute mark for us. There was a lot of game pressure. The game got tied. I thought our kids responded beautifully
to that type of pressure.”
The Blue Devils got a huge game from Mason Plumlee, who managed 25 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and five blocks. Plumlee was aided with strong games from guard Nolan Smith, who registered 18 points
and nine rebounds and All-American Kyle Singler, who managed 14 points and six rebounds.
Marquette had no answer for Plumlee, who was able to record six of his 12 rebounds at the offensive end.
The Golden Eagles were helped out by a strong performance from forward Jimmy Butler, who contributed 22 points, six rebounds and two steals. Marquette also got quality bench scoring from Jae Crowder, who
dropped 15 points.
The Blue Devils will see the number four ranked Kansas State Wildcats in the finals on Tuesday 23 November, while the Golden Eagles will meet the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the third place match-up, which will
also take place on Tuesday.
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