With the calendar officially turned to college basketball’s most important month, each and every game carries weight from here on out for Duke.
Even Monday’s road battle with NC State, despite it being a regular-season game against a team not projected to make the NCAA Tournament, can drastically alter the Blue Devils’ expectations.
A win keeps them within a game of the ACC lead at worst, giving them a chance for at least a share of the regular-season crown in the finale, and pushes them closer to a No. 2 seed in the March Madness. After a valiant 7-1 run to stay alive in the conference, however, a loss to the in-state rivals could take all of the air out of Duke’s balloon at a crucial time.
Here is what our staff thinks you can expect from the road battle.