Duke Blue Devils Dominate Louisville Cardinals
In a commanding performance on Monday night, the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils defeated the No. 20 Louisville Cardinals with a decisive 83-52 victory, affirming their status as strong favorites in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Key Performers
Cameron Boozer was a standout for Duke, recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while teammates Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II contributed significantly, each scoring 15 points.
Game Highlights
The game saw Duke take control shortly after halftime, outscoring Louisville with a remarkable 13 unanswered points that extended their narrow lead to a more comfortable margin. The Blue Devils demonstrated dominance on both ends of the court, particularly in rebounding and inside scoring, finishing the game with an impressive field goal percentage of 50.8%.
This victory marks Duke’s 27th consecutive win at their home venue, Cameron Indoor Stadium, and improves their record to 7-1 against ranked teams.
Louisville’s Struggles
Louisville, meanwhile, struggled throughout the contest, especially during a critical stretch of about 15 minutes in which they managed only 3 baskets out of 22 attempts. Ryan Conwell was the leading scorer for the Cardinals with 18 points as they concluded the game shooting a disappointing 29.6% from the field.
Previous Encounter and Player Debut
This matchup was particularly noteworthy as it followed Duke’s earlier encounter with Louisville, wherein they overcame a 12-point deficit to win 83-72 on January 6, showcasing their resilience and shooting prowess, especially in the second half.
Adding further intrigue to this game was the presence of Louisville’s freshman standout Mikel Brown Jr., a highly regarded prospect projected for the NBA draft. Having missed the initial meeting due to a back injury, Brown made his debut at Cameron Indoor Stadium, but it was a challenging outing for him, as he finished with just 7 points on a mere 1-of-13 shooting performance.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will face SMU at home on Saturday, while the Blue Devils travel to Virginia Tech for their next matchup, aiming to maintain their perfect conference record.
As the college basketball season progresses, the latest polls and updates on the AP Top 25 will continue to shape the narrative of the top teams in the nation.
