That Didn’t Last Long…Duke Has Now Surpassed Gonzaga as NCAA Tournament Favorites
That didn't last long
UNION, N.J. — Mohamed Bamba will take his final official visit to Duke Feb. 28-March 1 for the Florida State game, but that hasn’t stopped Matt Coleman from continuing to try and recruit the uncommitted big man to Texas.
“Yeah, I’m staying [on him],” Coleman told ZAGSBLOG following Oak Hill’s 59-47 loss to St. Benedict’s Prep on Saturday night at the Metro Classic at Kean University. “He’s really low-key with his recruitment and stuff. I know he just set his visit up for Duke, but I’m feeling good about him hopefully coming to Texas.”
Texas coach Shaka Smart watched the 6-foot-11 big man from Westtown (PA) on Jan. 29 in the Lehigh Valley Showcase.
Uncommitted point guard Trevon Duval sat with Duke signees Gary Trent Jr., and Wendell Carter Jr. for No. 18 Duke’s 86-78 win over No. 8 North Carolina on Thursday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The 6-foot-3 Duval is on his second official visit, following one to Kansas last week. He still plans to visit Arizona, Baylor and Seton Hall and has set no timetable on a decision.
Trent Jr. said he is recruiting Duval as well as uncommitted wing Kevin Knox and uncommitted big man Mohamed Bamba to Duke. Knox took his official visit to Duke in the fall, and will take his final official to UNC on Feb. 18 for the Virginia game. Bamba is slated to visit Duke Feb. 26-28 for his final official.
ROSELLE, N.J. — Trevon Duval returned to New Jersey this weekend for a pair of games in front of family and friends just as his recruitment is heating up.
The 6-foot-3 point guard is considering Arizona, Baylor, Duke, Kansas and Seton Hall and was coming off an official visit to Kansas. Following Sunday’s game against New Jersey power The Patrick School, Duval will head on his second official visit to Duke beginning Tuesday. He will be on campus for Thursday’s huge rivalry game against North Carolina.
“Next I’m visiting Duke, I’m going down there Feb. 8th,” Duval said after going for 12 points as IMG Academy (FL) beat Our Savior New American, 65-44, in the Tom Richel Memorial Hoopfest at Roselle Catholic High School.
“That was most convenient, I really wanted to go to that Carolina-Duke game, actually. That’s how I planned that.”
By JOEDY McCREARY
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Grayson Allen scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, and No. 21 Duke beat Pittsburgh 72-64 on Saturday in coach Mike Krzyzewski’s return after a four-week break following back surgery.
Amile Jefferson added 15 points, freshman Jayson Tatum had 12 and Luke Kennard added 10 to help the Blue Devils (18-5, 6-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) win their third straight.
Michael Young scored 24 points and Jamel Artis added 17 for the Panthers (12-11, 1-9), who have lost eight straight but the ACC’s last-place team gave its preseason favorite fits all game.
By JOEDY McCREARY
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Mike Krzyzewski is returning this weekend to coach his Duke Blue Devils.
The Hall of Fame coach made the announcement Thursday night on his weekly radio show that he will make his return Saturday against Pittsburgh after back surgery kept him out for four weeks.
His return falls in line with the four-week timeline the school projected when his leave of absence was announced on Jan. 2.
Duke (17-5, 5-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) went 4-3 with associate head coach Jeff Capel running the team in Krzyzewski’s absence. The No. 21 Blue Devils won two road games in 48 hours — at Wake Forest and at No. 20 Notre Dame — after losing three of their first five games without the winningest men’s coach in Division I history.
