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VCU can't hold on in 79-71 to Duke

Duke's second half effort was just too much for the VCU Rams.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

What does a Will Wade VCU team look like? We all found out Friday night as the Rams took to national television for the first time this year against #5 Duke.

What did we find out in the immediate aftermath? That VCU can still bring the defensive pressure and they may be more well diversified offensively despite some limitations when it comes to a having depth at the point guard position.

VCU was exciting and looked like the real deal for about 25 minutes of basketball before Duke started to tighten up. O yea there was the typical lazy Duke narrative as well...

The difference in the game was Duke's 17-3 run that evaporated a one point VCU advantage to expand a Duke lead to 12 points. Grayson Allen certainly responded to his benching after a poor performance against Kentucky, dropping 30 points on the Rams. Silly turnovers in the second half certainly attributed to VCU folding as well.

Melvin Johnson had a great effort for the Rams with 20 points on the evening.

A great barometer will certainly come tomorrow as well for VCU as they take on a 2-2 Wisconsin squad.