[9:35 PM] Michigan State @ #5 Duke

What will be the GAME RESULT?

Michigan State: Wins or Single Digit Loss

@ #5 Duke: Wins By Double Digits

 

• The Blue Devils have fallen in the rankings after starting the season at No. 1, while Michigan State has tumbled out of the top 25 after a lofty preseason perch at No. 9, in large part because it has had to navigate one of the nation’s toughest schedules to date. All three of the Spartans’ losses have come against teams currently ranked in the top 15 – No. 2 Kentucky, No. 11 Baylor and No. 15 Arizona – and now they’ll add another top-five test on the road.

• Duke hasn’t lost a non-conference game at home since 2000, but it doesn’t often get visitors the caliber of the Michigan State squad it will host on Tuesday. The fourth-ranked Blue Devils put their 128-game non-conference home winning streak to the test – as well as their recent dominance over Tom Izzo’s team – when they host the Spartans in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

• The Spartans go as senior guard Eron Harris (12.7 points) goes, as the Indianapolis native averages 19.3 points in wins and four in losses. Miles Bridges (17.4 points, 8.7 rebounds) has been a much more consistent scorer, putting up double digits in six of seven games – including four 20-point performances. Fellow freshman forward Nick Ward (10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds) has been productive off the bench, but the Spartans still are a work in progress at the offensive end.

• The Blue Devils’ roster is loaded with talent, but much of it could be confined to the sidelines Tuesday with highly-touted freshmen Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Marques Bolden still waiting to make their debuts and star guard Grayson Allen (16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists) nursing a toe injury. Duke still has plenty of dangerous players, with Luke Kennard (17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists) and Amile Jefferson (13.6 points, 9.4 rebounds) leading the way along with guard Frank Jackson – the one freshman who has seen the court enough to live up to his hype. Jackson (16 points) has scored in double figures in every game.

• Duke owns the best record (15-2) and winning percentage (.882) of any team in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, while the Spartans are 7-9 in the event.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: #5 Duke: Wins By Double Digits

Confidence: 4/10

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