Duke Dominates Louisville, Bouncing Back From Wake Forest Loss

Durham, NC – Duke, ranked No. 10 and boasting a record of 21-6 overall and 12-4 in the ACC, returned home to Cameron Indoor Stadium after a challenging three-game road trip, hosting Louisville (8-19, 3-13 ACC) and dominates with 84-59 victory in favor of the Blue Devils.

Despite grappling with injuries, notably Caleb Foster, who saw on the bench with a boot, and Kyle Filipowski nursing a foot injury from the Wake Forest court storm game, Duke managed to set a strong tone early on.

Mark Michell’s impressive layup initiated a high-momentum half for Duke, which began with a commanding 6-0 run. The Blue Devils showcased solid early defense, restricting Louisville’s offensive opportunities. Duke’s substantial lead at halftime was largely due to Louisville’s low 27% field goal percentage contrasted with Duke’s impressive 59%, though Duke’s 10 turnovers tempered their advantage. Moreover, Louisville struggled beyond the arc, hitting only 1 of 11 attempts, while McCain and Roach combined for 4 successful shots from long range.

In the second half, veteran Jeremy Roach emerged as the game-changer, leading the Blue Devils with 19 points, shooting 8-11 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the arc. The game flowed smoothly for Duke in the latter half as they outclassed Louisville, extending their lead to 24 points with 7 minutes remaining. Despite room for improvement in turnovers, Duke delivered a solid performance, rebounding from the Wake Forest setback.

“This team is easily a top 10 national team; the only way to fight against a team like Duke is to fight.”  Louisville Head Coach Kenny Payne expressed his thoughts on tonight’s loss.

Looking ahead, Duke is set to face Virginia at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 2nd at 6:00 PM, aiming to maintain their momentum on home court.