Duke basketball is gearing up to take on No. 1 Kansas on Tuesday, check out our Duke Wire staff predictions for the game.
Duke basketball coach [autotag]Jon Scheyer[/autotag] spent all offseason telling Blue Devils fans that he wanted to test his young team early and often with the non-conference schedule, and the Cameron Crazies have ridden that roller coaster already through five games.
In the team’s third game of the season, superstar freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] turned the ball over twice on the final two possessions as the Kentucky Wildcats stormed from behind for a 77-72 upset in Atlanta. Two games later, Flagg scored 24 points as the Duke defense smothered the Arizona Wildcats for a 69-55 road win.
Within two weeks, fans experienced the full spectrum of emotion and expectations. That dial will get turned to 11 on Tuesday night with a neutral-site game against No. 1 Kansas.
The Jayhawks already beat the North Carolina Tar Heels, and they remain 5-0 to keep a hold on the top spot in every rankings. However, popular analytics websites like KenPom think the Blue Devils might actually be the better team.
Check out our Duke Wire staff predictions ahead of Tuesday’s big game.
Ryan Haley, Duke Wire site editor
The Jayhawks don’t have many weaknesses on paper, but when the results get examined, the holes that make KenPom question their top-dog status start to appear.
Kansas has played one top-25 opponent (at home) in its first five games and has outscored its foes by an average of 16.0 points per game. The Blue Devils, with two ranked opponents away from home, have an average margin of 27.2 points per game. While the Jayhawks sit within the top 50 in most of the site’s offensive metrics, the only thing Kansas seems to be genuinely amazing at is not turning the ball over.
I think the real difference in this game showed up in Tucson on Friday. Arizona entered that game with one of the best rebounding margins in the nation, but the Blue Devils grabbed 43 boards to the Wildcats’ 30 thanks to 21 combined rebounds from Kon Knueppel, Sion James, Tyrese Proctor, and Caleb Foster in the backcourt. If freshman 7-footer Khaman Maluach can stay on the court for most of the second half, Duke’s size across the board translates to extra possessions, and that’s the best way to win tight games.
Duke 79, Kansas 75
Bryant Crews, Staff Writer
Duke continues its non-conference gauntlet on Tuesday in Sin City against the nation’s No. 1 team, the Kansas Jayhawks. Duke fumbled away a golden opportunity against Kentucky but responded with a gritty defensive effort on the road against a top-25 Arizona team.
The Blue Devils didn’t head east, opting to practice and recover in Arizona before making the trip to Las Vegas. That’s important because Duke should be rested and ready for another late tip.
Kansas’s three senior starters—KJ Adams, Dajuan Harris Jr., and Hunter Dickinson—lead the team. The trio combine to average 35.6 of the team’s 83.6 points per game. Harris is a real menace in the defensive backcourt, while Adams offers physicality and versatility in the frontcourt. Dickinson is the offensive hub and primary option.
I think Duke matches up pretty well with Kansas, even with the Jayhawks’ transfer portal additions of Zeke Mayo, Rylan Griffen, and AJ Storr. Dickinson will hold down the paint defensively, so this game will be won on the wings and in the backcourt. Duke will need Caleb Foster to show up in a big way. It’ll also need a better shooting performance as a team.
Duke is no stranger to these games now, and I like the Blue Devils to come out ready to rock against an experienced Kansas team. I think we should have a track meet where both teams push into the 80-point range.
Flagg flirts with a triple-double, Foster has his best game of the season, and Mason Gillis hits multiple threes off the bench. Duke wins a thriller and puts the college basketball world on notice.
Duke 86, Kansas 82
Josiah Caswell, Staff Writer
Duke is one of the best teams in the country, but the Blue Devils also face one of the toughest schedules in the country. After already facing Arizona and Kentucky, splitting those games 1-1, the Blue Devils now have to deal with the No. 1 team in the country.
The Jayhawks have no true weakness. They have young talent and experienced talent, they can shoot, and they can play tough in the paint. In terms of the paint, they’re led by super-senior Hunter Dickinson. A 7-foot-2 center, Dickinson can put up points and crash the boards well.
Duke’s guards will also have a tough matchup with Dajuan Harris Jr. and Zeke Mayo. You also most definitely can’t forget power forward KJ Adams Jr. Simply, Kansas is stacked.
If Duke is to win, Cooper Flagg will need to play his best basketball and, most importantly, protect the ball and limit turnovers. Maluach will also need to handle Dickinson, and Knueppel will need to shoot a high percentage from 3-point range.
Ultimately, I think the inexperience of Flagg and a lot of the Blue Devils’ roster will haunt them against a very experienced Jayhawks team. This would be a very different statement if the game was played in February, but it is not.
Kansas 92, Duke 85
