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WGL Sports Performer of the Day (2/15/17)

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Duke Blue Devils Forward Jayson Tatum (28 points, 9 rebounds)

After being the preseason #1 team, the Duke Blue Devils suffered through injuries (both to players and coach) and a rocky January that saw them nearly plummet out of the top 25. Now, it appears that things are finally falling into place for this team. Entering a hostile environment on the road against #14 Virginia, the 12th ranked Blue Devils faced a tough test to stay in contention for the ACC title. They struggled mightily in the first half, scoring a season-low 21 points and trailing by four at the break, but were able to rally to a big 65-55 victory, thanks in large part to freshman forward Jayson Tatum taking over down the stretch. For the game, he scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. In the second half alone, he scored 21 points, shot 7 for 11 from the field, and made 5 of his 6 three pointers, including three contested pull-ups down the stretch that ultimately iced the game for the Blue Devils.

For Duke, the win moves them to 21-5 on the season and 9-4 in conference play. They are still very much alive for the ACC crown. Over the last four seasons, they are now 4-1 against Virginia and are the only team in the ACC with a winning record over the Cavaliers during that span. For Tatum, he had his coming out party last night and proved that Duke has not two, but three legitimate scorers now along with Luke Kennard and Grayson Allen. With several NBA scouts in attendance, Tatum showcased all of the skills that had people salivating during the preseason. He demonstrated an ability to score from anywhere on the floor, as well as use his 6’8” frame to be a menace on the glass and force the opposition into some tough shots. For the season, Tatum is averaging 15.6 points and 7.0 rebounds, and he’s really been Duke’s only freshman that has lived up to the hype so far. He missed the first eight games with a foot injury and as a result, he has had some bouts of inconsistency and had not put together a complete game like the one we saw from him last night. But now, as we head into the stretch run, Tatum is showing a new found confidence at the college level, and with Duke finally healthy and able to build some chemistry together on the floor, the sky is the limit for both Tatum and his team.

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