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No. 5 Duke can't afford to look past Virginia

Mar 5, 2008 - 1:09 PM No. 5 Duke (25-3) at Virginia (14-13) 7:00 pm EST

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Ticker) -- Before No. 5 Duke faces No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday in a game that should decide the Atlantic Coast Conference title, the Blue Devils must first get past Virginia on Wednesday.

The Blue Devils (25-3, 12-2) have rebounded from a rare two-game losing streak to win three straight, including Saturday's 87-86 victory over North Carolina State that gave coach Mike Krzyzewski his 800th career win.

Duke defeated the Cavaliers (14-13, 4-10) earlier this season at home, 87-65. The Blue Devils are 23-3 in the last 26 meetings with Virginia.

Senior guard DeMarcus Nelson leads five Blue Devils averaging in double figures at 15.5 points per game. Freshman forward Kyle Singler averages 14.3 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds for Duke.

The Cavaliers have struggled since the beginning of the year, posting a 4-11 record since a 78-70 victory over Hartford on December 30. Virginia has lost three conferences games in overtime, one by a point in regulation and two by two points in regulation.

Senior guard Sean Singletary has done in all for the Cavaliers, averaging 19.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists. Junior swingman Mamadi Diane averages 11.4 points and 4.4 rebounds, while senior forward Adrian Joseph averages 10.6 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds.