NC State, Duke play for third time this season

N.C. State’s win over Wake Forest gives them a third shot at Duke this season. It’s also the third year in a row the Wolfpack and Blue Devils will meet in the ACC tournament.

Duke has eliminated N.C. State in each of the past two years and has won seven of the past eight tournament matchups going back to 1999.

The Wolfpack (16-16) will have to find a better way to control All-ACC Duke guard Grayson Allen in Wednesday’s second-round matchup. Allen had 28 points and seven assists in Duke’s 88-78 win in Raleigh on Jan. 23. The sophomore guard, who was once recruited by N.C. State, had 28 again in Duke’s 88-80 win in Durham on Feb. 6.

Duke went 14 of 28 from the 3-point line in the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Freshman guard Luke Kennard was 6 of 11 from the 3-point line.

Duke has had success against N.C. State star Cat Barber going back to last year’s tournament game. Barber was scoreless in 25 minutes of State’s 77-53 loss to the Devils in Greensboro. He got knocked out of the game after a collision with Amile Jefferson on a hard screen.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has been creative with his defensive strategy in the past three meetings to make Barber give up the ball. Duke was double- and triple-teaming Barber in the game in Durham.

Barber had 26 points in the eight-point loss in Durham and 19 in the first game in Raleigh.

“We’re going to go back to the hotel, relax and be ready,” Barber said. “I’m just going to keep that, we going to be ready.”

Barber had 22 points on Tuesday against Wake Forest but made just 7 of 21 shots.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 7:50 PM with the headline "NC State, Duke play for third time this season."