After DWI stop, Banchero plays for No. 7 Duke in win
AP
Nov 17, 2021
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) Paolo Banchero started for Duke Blue Devils two days after he was cited for aiding and abetting impaired driving, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds in the seventh-ranked Blue Devils' 92-52 win over Gardner-Webb Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
Banchero, a freshman who was picked as the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Player of the Year, was stopped by police early Sunday morning in nearby Hillsborough along with teammate Michael Savarino - coach Mike Krzyzewski's grandson.
Savarino was driving Banchero's white Jeep, according to court records, and was arrested for driving while impaired. Banchero, who was in the back seat, was cited at the scene and released.
''We had a violation of our standards and we'll handle that internally. We're already handling it,'' Krzyzewski said.
Savarino did not play against Gardner-Webb (0-3), while Banchero was on the court for 26 minutes.
Of his decision to start Banchero, Krzyzewski said: ''Two entirely different situations. Headlines might make it look like it's the same, but it's not. The decisions we made are in conjunction with my superiors, and we're taking action.''
Trevor Keels led Duke (4-0) with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore center Mark Williams had a career-high six blocks along with 13 points as Duke cruised to its largest margin of victory this season.
''It was a huge relief. It's a lot of stuff going on outside that locker room,'' Keels said. ''But you know, we try to focus on just the game. And we did a good job preparing for the game. We took care of business.''
After trailing the Bulldogs by a point early on, Duke went on a 35-11 run to build a comfortable lead. The Blue Devils never trailed in the second half and led by as many as 42 points.
Lance Terry scored 15 points to lead Gardner-Webb.
Wendell Moore added 14 points for Duke, Joey Baker scored 12, and Jeremy Roach had 10.
BIG PICTURE
Gardner-Webb: After three straight road games to start the season - two against ranked teams - the Bulldogs will be happy to return home and test themselves against competition comparable to what they'll see in the Big South this season.
''Tough night for the red team. I was super impressed with Duke. They were terrific tonight. We really had no answers, in terms of being able to put some stops together, and then we really struggled to score,'' Gardner-Webb coach Tim Craft said. ''I think we have a team that's pretty connected. I think we got a group that's pretty coachable.''
Duke: It's unclear when - and if at all - Banchero might face discipline for the off-court incident. What is clear is when Banchero is on the court, Duke remains very difficult to beat.
''P is a good dude,'' Keels said. ''He knew we had a game today. He didn't let that outside noise distract him too much.''
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Duke had its best 3-point shooting game of the season, making 10 of 22 attempts (45.5%). The Blue Devils made one 3-pointer in their season opener against Kentucky. Duke was 110th in the nation, and eighth-best in the ACC, in 3-point shooting last season at 35.2%.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Duke moved up two spots in the latest AP Top 25 poll and should stay in the top 10 with additional commanding wins.
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb: The Bulldogs host Carver College of the NCCAA on Saturday.
Duke: The Blue Devils play their fourth of five straight home games on Thursday, against Lafayette.
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1st Half
GWEB
Bulldogs
27
DUKE
Blue Devils
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Kareem Reid vs. Mark Williams (Jeremy Roach gains possession)
19:43
Paolo Banchero turnover (bad pass) (Kareem Reid steals)
19:19
Mark Williams blocks Kareem Reid's two point jump shot
19:17
Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
19:04
Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot
19:02
D'Maurian Williams defensive rebound
19:01
Jeremy Roach personal foul (D'Maurian Williams draws the foul)
18:40
Kareem Reid misses two point hook shot
18:38
Trevor Keels defensive rebound
18:20
+3
Trevor Keels makes three point jump shot (Wendell Moore Jr. assists)
0-3
18:02
Paolo Banchero blocks Zion Williams's two point jump shot
18:00
Trevor Keels defensive rebound
17:46
Wendell Moore Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:44
Jordan Sears defensive rebound
17:36
D'Maurian Williams misses three point jump shot
17:34
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
17:09
Paolo Banchero misses two point jump shot
17:07
Jordan Sears defensive rebound
16:52
Kareem Reid misses two point layup
16:46
D'Maurian Williams offensive rebound
16:46
Lance Terry misses three point jump shot
16:44
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
16:33
Trevor Keels misses three point jump shot
16:31
Mark Williams offensive rebound
16:31
Mark Williams misses two point layup
16:29
D'Maurian Williams defensive rebound
16:19
+2
D'Maurian Williams makes two point layup
2-3
15:58
Wendell Moore Jr. misses two point jump shot
15:57
Runnin' Bulldogs defensive rebound
15:57
TV timeout
15:43
+2
Lance Terry makes two point layup (Ademide Badmus assists)
4-3
15:27
+2
Paolo Banchero makes two point dunk (Jeremy Roach assists)
4-5
15:17
Jordan Sears turnover (bad pass)
14:57
Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
14:55
Anthony Selden defensive rebound
14:49
+2
Lance Terry makes two point layup
6-5
14:19
+3
Trevor Keels makes three point jump shot (Paolo Banchero assists)
6-8
13:42
D'Maurian Williams misses three point jump shot
13:40
Paolo Banchero defensive rebound
13:36
Trevor Keels turnover (lost ball)
13:23
+3
Julien Soumaoro makes three point jump shot (D'Maurian Williams assists)
9-8
13:10
Ademide Badmus personal foul
13:10
+2
Joey Baker makes two point layup
9-10
13:10
Zion Williams shooting foul (Joey Baker draws the foul)
13:10
Joey Baker misses regular free throw 1 of 1
13:10
Zion Williams defensive rebound
12:49
Theo John shooting foul (Kareem Reid draws the foul)
12:49
+1
Kareem Reid makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-10
12:49
+1
Kareem Reid makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-10
12:28
+2
Jeremy Roach makes two point jump shot
11-12
12:14
+2
Kareem Reid makes two point layup (Julien Soumaoro assists)
13-12
11:52
+2
Mark Williams makes two point dunk (Jeremy Roach assists)
13-14
11:38
TV timeout
11:30
Lance Terry turnover (traveling)
11:19
Jeremy Roach turnover (lost ball) (Kareem Reid steals)
11:06
Lance Terry misses three point jump shot
11:04
Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
11:00
Lance Terry shooting foul (Mark Williams draws the foul)
11:00
Mark Williams misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:00
+1
Mark Williams makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-15
10:47
Kareem Reid misses two point layup
10:45
Wendell Moore Jr. defensive rebound
10:39
Wendell Moore Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Zion Williams steals)