Kyle Filipowski shook off a sprained ankle to lead Duke to a crucial win over a struggling Notre Dame team Tuesday night. Duke led the final 29 minutes in staying undefeated at home.
That’s probably about what you expected to read. In legal terms, that’s the truth and nothing but the truth. But it certainly isn’t the whole truth. You notice I didn’t give a final score. It was Duke 68 Notre Dame 64. Led by a spectacular stretch performance by Dane Goodwin, the Irish made a spirited comeback, cutting Duke’s lead from 14 points to one before Duke finally salted it away.
Please note that “spirited comeback” is media-speak for “whew, that was closer than maybe it should have been.”
Filipowski playing wasn’t the only surprise. Former Duke assistant Mike Brey is retiring at the end of the season after a long and distinguished career in South Bend and this was his final trip to Cameron. Mike Krzyzewski showed up to send his old protege out in style, Coach K’s first appearance in Cameron this season, at least for a game.
To borrow a phrase from Bob Dylan, Coach K sat stone-faced while the building (almost) burned.
But Brey should enjoy that wine gift.
The teams exchanged leads early. Notre Dame’s biggest lead was three points at 9-6, its last lead at 17-15. Dariq Whitehead knocked down a triple to make it 18-17 and another to make it 27-19.
The half ended 31-23.
Filipowski started the second half with a pair of jumpers making it 35-23 and forcing Brey to call a timeout. It seemed like Duke was well on its way to the kind of methodical, double-digit win the odds-makers predicted and many fans likely expected.
And it was still 52-42 with just over eight minutes left.
But Notre Dame just wouldn’t go away. And they have five grad-students in their rotation, including the 6-6 Goodwin who scored 17 points in eight minutes, bombs away from downtown, an and-one at the rim and some nifty stuff in between.
His last bucket left Duke up 56-52 with 4:33 left.
Two Filipowski foul shots made it 62-54, with 2:11 left. But Duke failed to secure a defensive rebound and Cormac Ryan drilled a 3, Duke had an empty possession, J.J. Starling hit a 3 and that big lead was down to 62-60.
Jeremy Roach went to the line with Duke up two, made the first freebie, missed the second, Starling hit a layup and it was 63-62, with 36 seconds left.
Duke was in the single bonus, which meant a one-and-one on a common foul. But Brey decided to play it out and got burned. Roach got inside on the dribble, found Mark Mitchell open on the left wing and the freshmen did not hesitate.
His 3-pointer made it 66-62.
“[I] don't think Mark has played his best as of late,” Jon Scheyer said, “and every day he gets 100 corner threes in and he works religiously on shooting before and after practice. Our coaches do a great job with him. So, to come back in late, they plug off of him in the corner, Jeremy kicks it to him. That is a big-time shot and that's not the first time he has made a shot like that so really proud of him for sticking with it and making that play.”
Mitchell also cited that wood-shedding.
“I worked on that shot all week, and I’ve been in the gym late nights, after practice, before practice, so when the time came, my work showed. I just thank God that in the big moment I could step in and knock down that shot. I’ve been in a little bit of a slump lately, so it felt good to hit one like that, especially when you work on it a lot. Your work will eventually show. Whatever you do in the dark will eventually come to light, and it did in that moment.”
The Irish got a stick-back but Proctor calmly ended the game with two foul shots.
“Then Tyrese at the end, two free throws,” Scheyer summed up. “I don't even know if it hit the rim, went right through the net.”
Filipowski led Duke with 22 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and a block.
“He didn't even practice these last two days,” Scheyer noted. “He could hardly walk on Sunday. Yesterday, it was better, where he could do some light jogging, and spot shooting, but he couldn't even go contact or five-on-five. So, to come out, he just looked great to start the game.”
“I still was trying to find my teammates in certain positions,” Filipowski said “and just trying to have the energy and have some impact, regardless of if I was scoring 20 or not. Just being out there and having fun with it – I think I did that today and had the right mental fortitude for that and it was a lot of fun.”
Filipowski was Duke’s only double-figure scorer. Roach and Whitehead had nine points each, Mitchell eight, Dereck Lively II six points, six rebounds, two blocks.
Goodwin led everyone with 25 points, hitting 11 of 13 from the field.
Notre Dame doesn’t challenge a lot on the perimeter but after recent games Duke will take those eight turnovers and hopefully build on it. And 16 assists look good.
Not the comfortable win most expected or the comfortable win that seemed possible much of the game. But it’s a win and Duke is 18-8, 9-6 in the ACC with another one of those blasted quick-turn-around Saturday/Monday combos on the horizon.
“Not every win’s going to be pretty,” Roach summed up. “You’re going to have to muck out some wins, for sure, especially in the ACC when every team is coming for you every night. I’m just happy we got the win.”