By Will Vandervort.
Jordan Roper watched Wednesday night Duke-North Carolina game with enjoyment. The fourth-ranked Blue Devils and No. 15 North Carolina combined for 182 points in an era when college basketball is known more for its physical style of defense that it is shooting and skill.
“The pace of the game was incredible. It’s basketball; it’s a game of runs,” Roper said. “It’s amazing that Duke came back and won. I’m excited to play them.”
Duke (21-3, 10-3 ACC) rallied from a nine-point deficit in the last two and a half minutes to beat the Tar Heels in overtime 92-90.
“They’re good. They do a lot of good things offensively,” Roper said of the Blue Devils. “(Quinn) Cook and (Tyus) Jones seem like the leaders on the floor, so we look forward to the matchup.”
This is the first game between the two ACC foes since Duke escaped an upset bid by the Tigers in last year’s ACC Tournament. A controversial non-call on Clemson guard Rod Hall on the last play of the game allowed the Blue Devils to beat Clemson 63-62 in the quarterfinal game.
“We haven’t talked about it. They almost have a new team. That was last year,” Roper said. “We just look forward to a new challenge.”
Clemson did, however, defeat 16th-ranked Duke in Littlejohn Coliseum last season, their first win over the Blue Devils in five seasons. Three Tigers — Jaron Blossomgame, K.J. McDaniels and Landry Nnoko — posted double-doubles.
Two of those guys are still on Clemson’s team. Of course McDaniels has moved on the NBA, and the Tigers could be without the services of Blossomgame – the Tigers’ leading scorer and rebounder. He sprained his ankle in Thursday’s practice and is listed as questionable for the 4 p.m. tip off.
If Blossomgame isn’t able to go then guys like Roper, Hall and Nnoko will be expected to pick up the pace at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Blossomgame is averaging 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
“I don’t feel any extra pressure. I think it’s a team game, so I don’t try to carry the load or anything,” Roper said. “If one of us can get it going offensively and we play well together, things will take care of themselves.”
Over the years, Clemson has defeated 10 different Blue Devil teams ranked inside the nation’s top 10 at the time of the meeting, including No. 1 Duke in front of the largest crowd in Littlejohn history on Jan. 9, 1980.
But this meeting will be in Cameron where the Tigers (15-11, 7-7 ACC) have not won since the 1994-’95 season – a stretch of 15 straight. Clemson is just 4-58 all-time at Duke.
“It’s one of the things you aspire to do as a college basketball player. Duke is one of the top programs in the nation. Historically, a lot of great things have happened there,” Roper said. “You know about the Cameron Crazies. A lot of guys want to get there and feel that type of atmosphere, and that’s what makes college basketball fun. You know when you go to Duke it’ll be fun, because they support their team.”