Duke didn’t make a field goal to finish the last four minutes of regulation but they traded trips to the foul line with Miami. Miami’s Sam Waardenburg rang a corner three to get his team within three points with 18 seconds remaining. After being intentionally fouled twice, A.J. Griffin put the game away for an 80-76 win.
Miami’s trapping of ball handlers and narrowing of passing lanes was a plan they tried to replicate from their first upset of Duke on January 8. It’s one identity of their veteran team who had experience as an advantage on Duke’s younger lineup.
Miami went on a 15-2 run in four minutes with three Duke turnovers for an 18-7 score. Paolo Banchero settled in, scoring four field goals of two feet or closer to get Duke back in the game. Miami’s five-out offense successfully spread the floor, thus putting them back in front by as much as eight points. Griffin cashed in on threes on consecutive possessions, which has been his specialty all season. The game was tied at 36 to end the half.
The game could’ve turned heavily in Duke’s favor when Paolo Banchero nearly walked after securing a rebound. Miami’s bench signaled for travel which was not called. On the other end of the floor, Jeremy Roach penetrated past Charlie Moore with a left-handed dribble to the lane for a layup. Duke tied their largest lead of seven points, 55-48. Jordan Miller would respond with two layups in two offensive trips. All-ACC guard Kameron McGusty curled off a screen for a mid-range field goal to bring Miami within 59-56. McGusty high-arched a three-pointer and Miami found themselves ahead 62-61. Each team exchanged buckets in the ensuing minutes until Trevor Keels laid in a fast-break pass from Wendell Moore at 4:10 for Duke’s 69-65 lead.
Although both teams finished in the bonus, Miami didn’t get Duke into foul trouble in the first half. According to Miami coach Jim Larrañaga, the foul line was a determining factor. “The game sometimes comes down to some very very simple things,” said Larrañaga. “In this case, it was free-throw shooting. They went 17 for 22, we went 6 for 12.” Miami has played well enough to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and they’re 23-11.
Virginia Tech (21-12) will meet Duke (29-5) in the championship Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Duke won 76-65 at home against the Hokies on December 22. A Blue Devil victory would be the 16th ACC Tournament Championship for coach Mike Krzyzewski. Banchero told ESPN’s Holly Rowe that he preferred to play North Carolina again before they were eliminated 72-59 by Virginia Tech.
