Written by Matt Norlander at CBSSports.com
On Wednesday night, freshman Jayson Tatum looked like the really good NBA player he will very soon become. In the process, he added yet another piece of evidence for why Duke is inevitably going to be one of the favorites — no matter its record — to win the national title when we get to the NCAA Tournament.
Few groups are as talented, and as deadly to break out against any opponent on a given night, like Duke (21-5). It takes six straight wins to capture an NCAA title, and for the second time this season the Blue Devils have compiled a winning streak that long. No. 12 Duke went on the road to play 14th-ranked Virginia, got a 65-55 win and the team can entirely thank Tatum for getting to fly home as victors. Virginia is slumping but it’s still one of the toughest defensive matchups/scouting reports in the sport. For 75 percent of the game, the Cavaliers had Duke checked.
Then Tatum broke them.
He finished with a career-high 28 points, plus nine rebounds. He had 21 second-half points, including a 5-of-6 spray behind the arc. One 3 after another, the long-limbed youngster just killed Virginia, which uncharacteristically has now lost three home games this season. Tatum gave the litany of NBA scouts in the building plenty to think about. He chopped away at UVA (18-7) with aggressive, step-into-it 3-pointers, cashed a few with a hand his face, and even hit one falling away. NBA-ready moves left and right. Very strong, very smooth. If you missed it, just check the video up top. And don’t worry: You’ll see this stuff a lot come June, when his draft highlight reel includes basically every 3-pointer he hit in Charlottesville.
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