Blog: Duke hopes to beat Gonzaga and return to Final Four
As Duke and Gonzaga prepare to battle in Sunday's Elite Eight match-up, both of these teams reflect on the fact that they've built their programs' credibility on durability.
In the past decade alone, the Blue Devils rank second on the NCAA's list of winningest teams. The team that sits right behind them? It's Gonzaga.
The Blue Devils know that getting to another Final Four appearance will not be easy against a balanced Gonzaga team.
"They're just good. They're really good, from their point guard to their center. All those guys are really good, especially on the offensive end," said Duke Freshman Jahlil Okafor. "We're going to try to do our best to defend them."
"They're deep. They trust in one another, and most importantly, they're veterans and have been together for four years," said Duke Freshman Tyus Jones.
This is a veteran Gonzaga team that's lead by Kevin Pangos. The senior is a crafty point guard with scoring abilities.
"Stopping Gonzaga starts with you know, containing Pangos," said Duke Freshman Justise Winslow. "They're an outstanding team led by a great point guard and it's going to be a tough night for us."
The Blue Devils have their hands full in Gonzaga's front line. This is a force of "Bigs" that's one of the best in the tournament. Kyle Wiltjer, Przemek Karnowski, and Domantas Sabonis are shooting 59.6 percet from the field in an
attack that varies on the floor.
"Our mindset is to try to stop them and try to not let them score as many points as they have in the entire season," Okafor said. "Their passing ability is one of the things they're good at, but they're also great at shooting. They're a great shooting team, they're great on the interior, so we're going to have our hands full."
"They're experienced, so it'll be tough. They're a high-powered offense, so we gotta grind out some stops," said Duke Senior Quinn Cook.
The stakes are higher than usual in this Elite Eight match-up, because only one player on both teams has ever been to the Final Four.
"Kyle Wiltjer is the only guy in the game who's ever been there so all of us want to get there," Cook said. "All of us on our team, those guys as well. Pangos, a four-year starter, I know wants to get there. Bell as well, so it's going to come down to who wants it more."
This game marks the first time ever that these two teams have met in the NCAA Tournament. They've met twice before in the regular season, with the Blue Devils winning both of those games on a neutral court in Madison Square Garden.
But Duke also takes comfort in this stat: Under Coach K, they're 11-2 in the Elite Eight.
