No. 2 Duke (19-1) at No. 14 Boston College (16-4) 9:00 pm EST
CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Boston College has
reasserted itself in the Atlantic Coast Conference race with an
impressive winning streak. Now it will face its toughest test
since joining the league.
The 14th-ranked Eagles will try for their fifth straight win in
league play and sixth in a row overall when it hosts No. 2 Duke
on Wednesday.
After an 0-3 start to its first season in the ACC, Boston
College (16-4, 4-3 ACC) has recovered to win four straight, all
by 10 or fewer points. It won another close affair Sunday with
a strong effort from the foul line, sealing a 66-64 triumph over
Georgia Tech.
The Eagles, led by Craig Smith, made 16-of-18 free throws in the
final 10:03 and finished 26-of-32 (81 percent) from the line.
Smith was 9-of-9 and scored 19 of his 25 points in the second
half as Boston College survived a sloppy affair that featured 39
turnovers and a prolonged field-goal drought at the start.
Boston College likely cannot afford a slow start against a Duke
squad that again is clicking on all cylinders after its first
loss of the season January 21. The Blue Devils (19-1, 7-0) have
won two straight by a total of 32 points.
In their 82-63 triumph over Virginia on Saturday, they were
given another stellar performance by senior J.J. Redick, who
scored 40 points on 11-of-13 shooting. He made 8-of-10
3-pointers and was 10-of-11 from the line in his third 40-point
game of the season.
Shelden Williams registered his 10th double-double with 17
points and 10 boards, throwing in eight blocked shots to add to
his school record.
Redick is three 3-pointers shy of becoming the fourth player in
NCAA history to reach 400 for his career and is 16 shy of
matching the all-time leader, Curtis Staples.
Duke is 4-1 all-time against Boston College, including wins in
both ends of a home-and-home series in 2000-01 and 2001-02.