Duke looking to break out of worst slump since 2007

DURHAM, N.C. >> None of Duke’s players have gone through anything like this at the school.

The 24th-ranked Blue Devils are mired in their worst slump in nearly a decade. The reigning national champs have dropped four of five and are in danger of dropping out of the national rankings for the first time since 2007.

“We have to get wins, and we have to get them fast,” guard Matt Jones said Thursday. “The sense of urgency in practice has to heighten, and it has been.”

It’s been an uncharacteristically tough stretch for the Blue Devils (15-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won two national titles since they last lost this frequently. With no games until next week, they’re putting the focus on self-improvement.

Guard Grayson Allen said “it’s just keeping a tremendous belief in” Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski because “he’s been through it all.”

The first three losses of this slump all were onepossession games in the final minute but after the last one, an 80-69 setback at Miami earlier this week, Krzyzewski said the Hurricanes “were better than we were.”

The Blue Devils knew they were in for some rough patches after losing four starters from the most recent national title team — including three one-anddone freshmen — and asking two newcomers to play key roles this time around.

Only two returning players logged significant minutes during the entirety of last season. When one of them was injured last month, things got much tougher.

High-energy forward Amile Jefferson was lost indefinitely with a broken foot just nine games into the season and Duke is just 7-5 without him. Krzyzewski said Jefferson, who averaged a double-double before his injury, is making progress but still does not have a timetable for a return.