NCAA basketball: Coach K ill, misses Duke’s victory

Associate head coach Jeff Capel took over the team for Krzyzewski. The second half of the schedule is decidedly easier than the first.

Coming out of a media timeout with just under 12 minutes remaining in the game, Duke buckled down on defense and rattled off an 18-2 run giving them a 72-55 lead with 5:39 remaining in the game. The league-leading Hoosiers struggled early on, missing eight straight shots and falling behind 10-2, but they were almost flawless in the final minutes of the half. The Blue Devils rode a spectacular offense and a mediocre defense to a strong regular season in 2014-15, and once Coach K was able to find the right defensive puzzle pieces in March, the team became special.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski hadn’t missed a game in more than 20 years before Tuesday night. He returned to his feet quickly and coached the rest of the game. The Blue Devils held the Yellow Jackets to 28 percent shooting in the second half.

Allen finished the game with 27 points and seven rebounds going 7 of 10 from long range.

Starting it off: The Yellow Jackets opened the game with Josh Heath at point guard, Adam Smith and Georges-Hunt at guard, and James White and Jacobs at forward. They last lost to the Yellow Jackets in 2010. Georgia Tech dissected the Blue Devils’ 1-3-1 and 1-2-2 looks before Capel went back to the basics and had his squad man up. Georgia led by 10 points at halftime and never trailed in the second half. Freshman point guard Derryck Thornton-who scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half-was especially aggressive and attacked the rim off of Georgia Tech misses. Georgia Tech shot 11 percent from behind the 3-point line. Some may say the Blue Devils are on the bubble, as Duke is now in 10th place in the ACC. Duke currently has a RPI of 19 (according to KenPom.com), though. He also had five assists.

Duke next plays Saturday at home against NC State.