Courtesy: Duke Photography

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke (13-1, 0-0), fifth in both the AP poll and ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, faces Virginia Tech (10-4, 1-0) on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 12:02 p.m. with ESPN televising the contest. Saturday’s game is the ACC opener for the Blue Devils, while the Hokies are 1-0 in conference play with a 63-60 win over Wake Forest on Dec. 17.

Duke used a strong defensive effort and a commanding edge on the glass in posting a 73-55 win over Temple on Tuesday in its last outing. The Blue Devils limited Temple to 34.3 percent (23-of-67) shooting from the floor and outrebounded the Owls 49-28.

Temple jumped out to an early 16-4 lead, before Duke responded with a 31-12 run to close the half.

Sophomore Josh McRoberts filled the stat sheet once again, finishing with a career-high 21 points to go along with nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks. The Carmel, Ind., native went 7-of-12 from the floor, including 1-of-2 from three-point distance, and 6-of-7 from the foul line.

DeMarcus Nelson posted his second career double-double with a 14-point, 11-rebound effort. Sophomore Greg Paulus also reached double-figures with 12 points on a perfect shooting night. The Syracuse, N.Y., native was 4-of-4 from the field, including 2-of-2 from three-point distance. Paulus also knocked down both free throw attempts.

David McClure made the most of his first starting assignment of the year, finishing with six points, a career-high 12 rebounds and two blocks. Freshmen Brian Zoubek and Gerald Henderson came off the bench to combine for 13 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

Storylines
The Blue Devils open ACC play for the 54th time on Saturday. Duke is 39-14 (.736) in its previous 53 league openers, including a 20-6 (.769) mark under Mike Krzyzewski. Duke has won 10 straight and 20 of its last 23 conferences openers. The 10-game ACC opener win streak is the longest in school history.
The Blue Devils have 19 home games on the schedule this season, the most in school history. The previous high was 17 during the 1996-97 season. Duke went 15-2 at Cameron Indoor Stadium that season. The school record for home wins in a season is 16, set in 1990-91 when the team was a perfect 16-0 at home. Duke is 11-0 at home this season marking the 15th time (1942, 1963, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007) it has opened the year with 11 straight home wins. Coach K has led the Blue Devils to 11-0 starts at home 10 times, including seven of the last 10 seasons.
Over the last five games, the Blue Devils have recorded assists on 66.1 percent (82-of-124) of their made field goals. In the first nine games of the year, Duke assisted on just 92-of-202 made field goals (45.5 pct.). The Blue Devils also have a 1.37:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the last five games, compared to a 0.69:1 assist-to-turnover ratio through the first nine games. Josh McRoberts and Greg Paulus have been catalysts in the turnaround as the duo has combined for 42 assists and just 15 turnovers (2.8:1 ratio) in the last five games.
Sophomore Greg Paulus is rounding into shape after a slow start to his sophomore campaign. Paulus, who suffered an ankle injury in the team’s first practice and missed nearly a month of action, is averaging 11.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the last seven games. He is shooting 56.8 percent (25-of-44) from the field, including 56.0 percent (14-of-25) from behind the three-point arc during that span.
Sophomore Josh McRoberts is the only player in the ACC to rank in the top-10 in rebounds (third - 7.9 rpg.), blocks (third - 2.6 bpg.), assists (ninth - 4.21 apg.), assist-to-turnover ratio (fifth - 2.11:1) and minutes played (sixth - 33.50 pg.). McRoberts is also 25th in the league in scoring  at 12.6 points per game. Over the last four games, the 6-10, 240-pound forward is averaging 16.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 4.0 blocks and 1.8 steals per game.
Duke outrebounded Temple, 49-28, on Tuesday. The 49 rebounds is a season high in team rebounds and the +21 rebounding advantage is also the highest of the season.  Duke has now outrebounded its opponent in 12 of 14 games this season. Duke is fifth in the ACC with a +6.9 rebounding margin.
David McClure made his first start of the season and the fourth of his career in Duke’s 73-55 win over Temple on Tuesday. The Ridgefield, Conn., responded with six points, a career-high 12 rebounds and two blocks in the game. For the year, McClure is averaging 4.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals while playing 21.2 minutes per game.
The Blue Devils have held 10 of 14 opponents below 25.0 percent shooting from three-point distance this season. In turn, Duke has shot better than 37.5 percent on treys in 10 of 14 games. Duke ranks first in the ACC in three-point defense at 24.0 percent (49-of-204).
Duke has had at least three players reach double-figures in scoring in 10 of 14 games (71.4 pct.) this season. DeMarcus Nelson has a team-high 12 double-figure scoring games, while Josh McRoberts is second with nine.