What’s eating Duke? No. 7 Blue Devils falter at Virginia for third loss in 4 games
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — No. 7 Duke had a bad week.
And on Saturday night, it got worse.
The seventh-ranked Blue Devils dropped their third game in a 10-day span Saturday, this time crumbling late in the second half to lose to Virginia, 52-50. They have now lost three of their past four games, watching their chances at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament — and now, perhaps even a No. 2 seed — evaporate along the way.
The Blue Devils have, at various times this season, played up to their reputation as one of the country’s premier college basketball programs. They’ve knocked off then-No. 3 Kansas and then-No. 8 Florida State. They’ve smoked conference foes Notre Dame and Miami. Their newest crop of five-star freshmen have played with confidence and poise beyond their years.
Yet they’ve also, at times, looked completely and utterly lost.
And the past week-plus is proof.
College basketball’s winners and losers:Is Baylor’s No. 1 seed in jeopardy after loss?
Bubble Watch:Clemson revives NCAA tournament life, Florida damages its credentials
Just 10 days ago, the Blue Devils were routed by local rival North Carolina State, 88-66 — a shocking defeat against a team that they have beaten with regularity in recent years. Then, on Tuesday, they lost in double overtime to Wake Forest.
And then, there was Saturday.
Against a Virginia team that has struggled to generate offense all season after losing several key pieces from last year’s national championship team — including Kyle Guy, De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome — Duke was never able to pull away, seizing the lead but soon allowing the Cavaliers to grab it right back.
Vernon Carey Jr. finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss for Duke (23-6). He fouled out inside the final minute, after a would-be go-ahead layup was blocked by Jay Huff.
Virginia (21-7) has now won six in a row, and nine of 10 overall.
Duke, meanwhile, has suffered as many losses in the past 10 days of the season (three) as it did in the first 106.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
