Kennard keys recent Duke resurgence

Freshman from Franklin was named ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday

Things appear to be on the upswing for Luke Kennard the Duke University basketball team.

After losing four of five games, the Blue Devils have won three games in a row, most recently Monday night’s 72-65 win at home over No. 13 Louisville.

RELATED: Track Kennard's season at Duke

Kennard, a Franklin High School grad, is a big reason for the recent resurgence. The 6-foot-5 freshman guard on Monday was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week after averaging 17 points in wins last week over Georgia Tech and NC State.

Against the Wolfpack, he scored 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Kennard drained 6-of-11 from three-point range to tie Duke's freshman record for three-pointers in a game.

He scored 11 against Louisville.

Kennard ranks third on the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game. Through games of Feb. 8, he leads all of college basketball in free throw percentage at 91.4 percent (74-of-81).

The unranked Blue Devils (18-6 overall, 7-4 ACC) host Virginia at 4 p.m. Saturday.

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