'We're just trying to be Duke': Blue Devils get much-needed upset win vs. No. 8 Virginia

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski isn’t leaning on his laurels or focusing on the five national championship banners that hang inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. 

“My car doesn’t have a rearview mirror,” Krzyzewski said Saturday night after the Blue Devils’ 66-65 win against No. 8 Virginia.  

“My coaching car, I never look in the past.” 

Looking forward, thanks to the monster win against the Cavaliers (15-5, 11-3 ACC), the Blue Devils (10-8, 8-6) boosted their NCAA tournament resume with their biggest win of the season to keep hopes alive for a 25th consecutive bid to the Big Dance. 

Four of the last five games in the series have been decided by one possession. 

"It's sad that fans were not at this game,” Krzyzewski said.

“This was an epic game. This was a great basketball game. Every possession was fought; it seemed like every dribble at times.” 

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The Cavaliers missed three shots in the final 40 seconds, including Kihei Clark’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer. It was the first win over a ranked team this season for Duke, which has won three games in a row since dropping below .500 for the first time in more than two decades. 

“Our kids played great defensive tonight and came up with some really big plays,” Krzyzewski said. “. … It seemed like everybody contributed to making big plays down at the end. A huge win for us.” 

Matthew Hurt scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Blue Devils while freshman guard Jeremy Roach added 12 and fellow rookie Jaemyn Brakefield supplied 11. 

“This was a big-time win for us and we needed this one badly. … I’m just so proud of my team,” said Hurt, who has averaged 22.7 points per game over his last three contests with a 75% shooting clip from the floor.  

With just under 2½ minutes remaining, Brakefield made plays on both ends that helped the Blue Devils seal the victory.

After swatting a shot by Clark, Brakefield followed up with a reverse layup over Jay Huff for the go-ahead basket at the 1:59 mark. 

“Jaemyn played big time tonight, on the defensive end and the offensive end,” Hurt said. “. … I’m just so excited for what the future holds for him.” 

Krzyzewski described Brakefield’s performance as “spectacular” and Hurt’s as “outstanding.” 

“Just making those plays, that’s why you come to Duke,” said Brakefield, who also had five rebounds and four blocks to go with his double-digit scoring performance. 

“. … That’s Duke basketball.” 

The Blue Devils, who last missed the NCAA Tournament field in 1995, have several more chances to improve on their 2-3 record in Quadrant I games ahead of Selection Sunday.  

Duke has a quick turnaround with Syracuse coming to Durham on Monday. The Blue Devils are scheduled to close the season with games against Louisville (Feb. 27), Georgia Tech (March 2) and rival North Carolina (March 6). 

Several more wins would likely secure a trip to the Indianapolis bubble.

“We’ve been playing a lot better,” Brakefield said. 

“We’ve had eight straight days of prep and games where we’ve gone all out, knowing that the season hasn’t gone how we’ve wanted it. We’re just finishing out. … We’re just trying to be Duke” 

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.