From what I've noticed regarding Duke's defense this season is that it isn't necessarily committed to the on the line up the line defensive pressure philosophy that Coach K is generally associated with. Duke still pressures the ball far from the basket, but what Duke is doing off the ball seems to be dependent on the scouting report. I'm re-watching the Virginia Tech game, and there are examples of this early in the game. Below I'm going to link a clip I created on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxE8z0n_DT0wdMAoFClSP54UyaaBhxDqyB
At 0:04 on the catch in the slot (lane line extended) AJ Griffin is not denying one pass away. He's in a gap, shrinking the floor. If you go to roughly 0:06, Trevor Keels is playing far more aggressively than AJ was. Keels is guarding Storm Murphy, and it's my assumption that this was a personnel scouting based decision to try and prevent Murphy from getting the ball back once he's given it up. Eventually in this clip, Keels is denying Murphy by being active in the passing lane and not allowing a straight line pass.
10 seconds · Clipped by MrCoolguy234 · Original video "Duke vs Virginia Tech | 2022.3.12 | NCAAB Game" by The Draftmatic
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In this clip, this is a great action from VT, and just really poor defense by Duke.
10 seconds · Clipped by MrCoolguy234 · Original video "Duke vs Virginia Tech | 2022.3.12 | NCAAB Game" by The Draftmatic
youtube.com
Duke had success earlier in the season with the small ball line-up defending Virginia Tech. In the ACCT Championship, Duke curiously did not return to that line-up, and VT just picked it apart by including Mark Williams in as many actions as possible, whether it be in ball screens, DHO's, or off-ball screens. In order for Duke to guard Virginia Tech competently, it is necessary to be able to
aggressively switch actions, and to do their best to keep the ball out of the paint via dribble penetration. Mark struggles to aggressively switch this, leading to a wide open catch & shoot 3 from Cattoor. Additionally, Duke got abused in their drop coverage in ball screens because it allowed Virginia Tech to play downhill, an example of this being in the clip below.
11 seconds · Clipped by MrCoolguy234 · Original video "Duke vs Virginia Tech | 2022.3.12 | NCAAB Game" by The Draftmatic
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Murphy simply rejects the screen and he has Williams and Keels spinning their heads. This is terrible defense that stemmed from a lack of execution. In my opinion, this should be an aggressive switch, or a more aggressive ball screen defense that will keep the ball on the perimeter. Allowing Storm Murphy, a very good point guard, to get downhill at his leisure, is not a recipe for success, especially when the drop coverage is that poor.
13 seconds · Clipped by MrCoolguy234 · Original video "Duke vs Virginia Tech | 2022.3.12 | NCAAB Game" by The Draftmatic
youtube.com
This is just ugly at this point- VT is exposing Duke and there's nothing that Duke can do about it unless the coaches made an adjustment, which they did not. Again, VT and Cattoor (?) get a wide open 3 because of Duke's inability/struggle to aggressively switch this because Mark is involved in the play.