7:03 pm
January 25

Clemson @ #9 Duke

Who will WIN this matchup?

Clemson Tigers (11-8)

@ #9 Duke Blue Devils (15-3)

 

Current odds:

Clemson Tigers: (+525)

Duke Blue Devils: (-750)

 

• The line for this game is Duke by 11.5 points.

• No. 9 Duke returned to its winning ways over the weekend. That just leads to another item on the Blue Devils’ to-do list. Of course, optimism has returned for Duke in recent weeks. Clemson will arrive Tuesday night at Durham, N.C., after the Blue Devils turned in one of their best performances of the season. Duke (15-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) excelled in many ways in defeating visiting Syracuse 79-59 on Saturday. It all resulted in some true balance offensively. Four Duke players scored 15 points.

• Clemson (11-8, 3-5) had one of its better games Saturday, as well: a 75-48 blowout of visiting Pitt.

• PJ Hall of Clemson has scored in double figures in 18 consecutive games, so he’s bound to be a focus of the Duke defense.

• There could be another twist for the Tigers. Chase Hunter was in the starting lineup for the first time this season against Pitt, and he responded with 13 points.

• AJ Griffin joined the Duke starting lineup for the past three games. He provides a shooting component that’s bound to boost the Blue Devils in certain ways.

• Duke knocked down 14 shots from 3-point range in the Syracuse game.

• Banchero had 15 points, ending a streak of four consecutive games with 20 or more points. But he provided a season-best 13 rebounds.

• Duke played Saturday for the first time this season without freshman guard Trevor Keels, who suffered a leg injury last week at Florida State. But despite the scary nature of the injury when it occurred, Krzyzewski said it won’t keep him sidelined long. With Keels out, Jeremy Roach moved back into the starting lineup. He delivered a team-high nine assists.

• The teams will meet again Feb. 10 at Clemson in a make-up game from a scheduled Dec. 29 game. That matchup was called off at the time because Duke’s team had entered COVID-19 protocol.

8/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#9 Duke Blue Devils