Pitt at Duke: Gameday Open Thread

Jeff Capel makes his return to Cameron

Fresh off a week off, No. 9 Duke hosts Pitt at Cameron Indoor on Tuesday. 

The Panthers are playing their second road game in five days, after losing to Syracuse on Saturday. The Panthers, 13-7, 4-5, have lost three of four on the road in the ACC.

This trip has more significance than most for the Panthers. Head coach Jeff Capel returns to Cameron, his home court for his four year Duke career. He also served as an assistant to Coach K for much of the last decade, playing a key role in much of the one-and-done recruiting that formed the cord of Duke’s recent teams. Capel also served as interim coach on several occasions and was widely considered to be the coach in waiting, when Coach K chose to retire. Instead, he left prior to last season and has done a quick rebuild of a Pitt team that had bottomed out under Kevin Stallings.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said injured freshman Wendell Moore Jr wouldn’t play tonight, but he took a major step in his recovery for the broken hand he suffered on Jan. 4. Moore participated in pregame warmups and did not have the large brace on his hand that he’s been sporting in recent weeks. 

Pregame meeting between the officials & captains, as we move closer to tip 

Duke comes out in warmups paying tribute to Kobe Bryant 

As does Pitt

24.8 on the clock for a moment of silence 

Nice round of applause for Capel in the intros. 

Dukes starters: Vernon Carey, Cassius Stanley, Matthew Hurt, Tre Jones, Jordan Goldwire 

We have a very late under 16 timeout, at 13:39. Duke up 9-7 but Pitt is on a 5-0 run

Vernon Carey with seven of Duke’s nine, including a three and a driving layup, as he continued to add face-up moves to his game 

Pitt extends the run to 10-0, taking a 12-9 lead. Sloppy play from Duke since the early lead. 

Vernon Carey gets a basket and will try to convert the and one after the under 12. Duke down 12-11

Duke on a run to take a 20-16 lead. Coach Capel came out onto the court & got feed up. Duke will be shooting free throws after the break. 

After Carey scored 11 of Duke’s first 13, teammates are starting to get involved. 

Javin DeLaurier knocked two Pitt players down on the last possession, but Cassius Stanley picked up the offensive foul. 22-18 Duke at the under 8.  

Back to back threes by Goldwire & Jones put Duke up 30-21. Pitt gets a time out 

Jack White hits a three. Duke has knocked duke four of its last five. Blue Devils lead 35-23 at the under 4. 

Matthew Hurt picks up his third foul and heads to the bench at 2:47

Late threes by White & Goldwire send Duke to the half up 45-34.

The students began chanting “Jeff Capel, sit with us” (as they do for recruits & alumni). Not sure what Coach K thought they were saying but he yelled at them to stop. Then at half, he came over to the section and shouted “he’s one of us” 

Vernon Carey hasn’t had a double double in ACC play (after getting 8 in 11 non-conference games). He has 13 and 8. That’s more than he scored in three of the last five games and more rebounds than he had in any of the last five 

Goldwire has a career high 11 points. 

Duke comes out fast after halftime, extending the lead to 57-42 at the under 16. 

After scoring just two in the first half, Cassius Stanley is off to a fast start with six in the first five minutes of the second half. Duke up 59-42

Carey gets his double double. First for him since Dec. 19

Pitt cuts the lead back to 64-52. Duke calls time to force the under 12 to get back on track. 

Pitt not going away. Cuts it to 10. Duke has been flirting with shot clock violations as it tries to work clock, resulting in poor shots. 

Also Matthew Hurt just picked up his fourth foul

Toney hits a three to cut it to seven. Duke turns it over trying to get a shot off before another violation, leading to a Pitt dunk. Duke calls time to force the under eight. Leading 66-61

Blue Devils are just 1-for-8 from three this half after hitting 7-of-14 in the first 

Carey called for goaltending, and it’s now a three point game. Lead had been 17

Hurt hits a pair of free throws and a rebound slips off Jack White’s fingertips out of bounds on the other end. 70-65 Duke at the under 4. Pitt ball 

Cassius Stanley beats the shot clock buzzer & the lead is back to 10. 2:00 to  play

That’ll do it. Duke wraps up a 79-67 win on an interesting night here at Cameron