Duke Set for Sunday Evening Test Versus No. 6 NC State

THE OPENING TIP

Duke welcomes No. 6 NC State to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 25 for a Sunday evening ACC tilt. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m., live on ACC Network with Angel Gray and Jasmine Thomas calling the action.
Duke and NC State meet on the hardwood for the 89th time on Sunday, NC State holding a 49-39 advantage in the all-time series. In the first matchup this season -- Jan. 21, 2024, the Wolfpack registered a 72-57 victory at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Blue Devils are amid another daunting stretch of games to close out the regular season slate, with four of the final six games against Top-25 teams -- Virginia Tech (#12), Notre Dame (#16), Syracuse (#17) and NC State (#6). The Blue Devils have gone 1-2 so far during this stretch.
Duke has taken on one of the nation's toughest schedules this season as the Blue Devils' SOS checks in at No. 6 nationally (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 22). The Blue Devils are also ranked No. 21 in the NCAA NET rankings.
The Blue Devils rank third nationally in blocks per game with an average of 6.3 rejections -- first in the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 22). Graduate student Camilla Emsbo, senior Kennedy Brown and rookie Jadyn Donovan have posted 30-plus blocks each, leading the way with 39, 38 and 32 rejections, respectively.
In addition to leading the league in rejections, the Blue Devils are top five in the ACC in 10 additional categories.
On the defensive end, Duke sits atop the ACC in rebounding defense (30.8), field goal percentage defense (.360) and scoring defense (57.7).
The squad also ranks second in defensive points per possession (0.731) and rebounding margin -- a +6.6 advantage, fourth in defensive rebounding percentage (.707) and fifth in forced turnovers (16.1) and scoring margin (+7.6).
Offensively, the Blue Devils are No. 2 in the ACC in offensive rebounding percentage (.353) and third in field goal percentage (.447).
Three Blue Devils average double figures in scoring -- Reigan Richardson (11.7), Taina Mair (10.4), Oluchi Okananwa (10.2).
The Blue Devils have assists on more than 50 percent of their field goals (.556) with 380 dimes on 684 made buckets. Mair leads the team with 3.7 per contest.
25 of Duke's 26 opponents have been held below their respective season scoring averages on the year. Syracuse's 45 points were 31.4 points below its average of 76.4.
The Wolfpack are balanced offensively with five players averaging double figures, led by Aziah James with 16.1.
In the NCAA rankings, NC State ranks among the top 10 in three categories -- defensive rebounds per game (2nd), fewest fouls average (7th) and rebounds per game (9th).

LAST TIME OUT

The Duke women's basketball team held 17th-ranked Syracuse to 25-percent shooting from the field and outrebounded the Orange by 17 to come away with a crucial 58-45 ACC victory Thursday night at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Kennedy Brown led the charge offensively with 12 points, while Reigan Richardson dropped in 11 points. Six Blue Devils finished the night with at least five points as freshman Jadyn Donovan had an outstanding evening with eight points, a career-high 15 rebounds, two assists, a block and one steal. Taina Mair dished out a season-best nine assists to go along with her seven points.
Frustrated by Duke's defense all night, the Orange (22-5, 12-4) finished with a season-low 14 field goals and knocked down just 3-of-16 from distance. Syracuse rarely got second looks in the game as the Blue Devils held a 35-15 advantage on the defensive glass.
Duke held Syracuse to its lowest point total (45) and field goal percentage (.250) of the season – the latter also marking the lowest shooting clip by a Duke foe this year.
The Blue Devils snagged 52 rebounds against the Orange – the third most by Duke this year.
In the specialty stats battle, the Blue Devils owned the advantage in points in the paint (36-20), in transition (18-2) and bench scoring (13-4).
25 of Duke's 26 opponents have now been held below their respective season scoring averages on the year. Syracuse's 45 points were 31.4 points below its average of 76.4.

BLOCK PARTY – EVERYONE'S INVITED

The Blue Devils' length has proven to be a factor on the defensive end this season as the squad averages 6.3 blocks per game -- No. 3 in the NCAA and tops the ACC (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 22).
Duke has registered five or more blocks in 20 games this season, including a pair of games with double-digit swats -- Coastal Carolina (12) and NC Central (11) -- as well as six contests with eight or more rejections -- at Stanford, vs. South Carolina, vs. Florida Gulf Coast, vs. Boston College, at Virginia, vs. North Carolina.
Graduate student Camilla Emsbo, senior Kennedy Brown and rookie Jadyn Donovan have posted 30-plus blocks each, leading the way with 39, 38 and 32 rejections, respectively. They are joined in double digits by freshman Delaney Thomas with 12 and junior Reigan Richardson with 10.
In the victory over Florida State (1.25), Brown set the Duke record for most blocks in a first quarter, tallying four of her game-high five rejections during the period.
The Blue Devils' blocks per game average (6.3) is the highest by a Duke squad since the 2006-07 season and would rank fifth all-time in the Duke Single Season Records for highest blocked shot average if the 2023-24 slate ended today.

DEFENSIVE CONSISTENCY – BROWN ANCHORING THE DEFENSIVE SHIP

Senior Kennedy Brown, Duke's defensive anchor and arguably one of the best defenders in the NCAA, has been a vital part of the team's defensive uptick over the last two seasons.
Prior to her arrival ahead of the 2022-23 season, the Blue Devils ranked 64th nationally in blocks per game, 148th in scoring defense and 156th in field goal percentage defense. The league standings saw Duke check in at No. 6, No. 8 and No. 11 in these respective metrics while also ranking 10th in defensive rebounding percentage.
In just her first season with the Blue Devils, Brown helped Duke make a seismic leap on the defensive end as the team finished the 2022-23 campaign ranked second in the NCAA in scoring defense, tied for fourth in defensive points per possession, ninth in field goal percentage defense and 10th in blocks per game.
The newly revamped and disruptive Duke defense also held each of its opponents below their season scoring average, including 17 of them to 50 points or less.
Although Duke features almost an entirely different team this season, with Brown patrolling the paint, one thing has remained the same -- the Blue Devils still boast one of the top defenses in the ACC and in the country.
Duke currently sits third nationally and first in the ACC in blocks per game while also leading the league in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense (ACC Only) for the second consecutive season -- the latter also ranked 18th in the NCAA.

A BATTLE TESTED BUNCH – STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

Duke has embarked on one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA this season.
Duke's strength of schedule currently ranks among the top 10, checking in at No. 6 nationally (NCAA rankings as of Feb. 22). The Blue Devils are also in the top 25 of the NCAA NET, ranking No. 21 on the list.
The Blue Devils' schedule has gotten progressively more challenging each year under Coach Lawson. Duke finished the 2022-23 season with the 10th toughest schedule in the NCAA.
The Blue Devils have faced nine opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 thus far this season (3-6) with the potential to play up to two more.
Six of the teams Duke has played this season also boast a top-30 SOS -- Stanford (2nd), North Carolina (20th), NC State (21st), South Carolina (24th), Georgia (25th), Wake Forest (29th).
Additionally, Duke owns several notable non-conference wins over teams that currently lead or rank among the top three in their respective conferences:
- Nov. 6 – 83-53 vs. Richmond (currently 24-4, 1st place in A-10 with 14-1 record)
- Nov. 14 – 66-62 at Columbia (currently 18-5, 2nd in Ivy League standings at 9-1)
- Dec. 10 – 82-63 vs. Florida Gulf Coast (currently 23-4, 1st place (13-0) in ASUN)
- Dec. 20 – 70-45 vs. Toledo (currently 20-4, Tied for 1st in the MAC via a 12-1 mark)

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils will honor their two seniors -- Kennedy Brown and Camilla Emsbo -- on Thursday, Feb. 29, when Duke hosts Virginia at 7 p.m., live on ACCNX.

To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."

Duke Centennial
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Duke Set for Sunday Evening Test Versus No. 6 NC State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kennedy Brown

Jadyn Donovan

Camilla Emsbo

Taina Mair

Oluchi Okananwa

Reigan Richardson

Delaney Thomas

Duke information

Duke Set for Sunday Evening Test Versus No. 6 NC State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kennedy Brown

Jadyn Donovan

Camilla Emsbo

Taina Mair

Oluchi Okananwa

Reigan Richardson

Delaney Thomas

Related Videos

Duke information