Duke basketball vs Wake Forest: Score prediction, scouting report for Blue Devils

[ad_1]

Following a full week between games, Duke basketball returns to the court this weekend in a Tobacco Road rivalry matchup at Wake Forest.

The second-ranked Blue Devils (16-2, 8-0 ACC), who have the nation’s longest winning streak at 12 games, will try to avoid an upset against the Demon Deacons (15-4, 7-1) on Saturday (4:30 p.m., ESPN) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Winston-Salem hasn’t been kind to Duke, which has lost in its last two trips to the Joel. The teams split a pair of meetings in 2024, but Wake Forest had a court-storming win in the second game.

Here are some other things to know and a score prediction for Duke vs. Wake Forest.

Cooper Flagg stats in Duke basketball road games

As the favorite to win National Player of the Year and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Duke freshman Cooper Flagg is the story anytime the Blue Devils take the court. Flagg has been impressive all season, logging several big-time games away from Cameron Indoor Stadium. In five road games, the 6-foot-9 wing has averaged 21.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. Coming off a road-best 28 points at Boston College, Flagg could put on another show in front of tie-dye nation at Wake Forest.

Wake Forest guards Hunter Sallis, Cameron Hildreth vs Blue Devils defense

If Wake Forest is going to pull off the upset, it’ll be because of guards Hunter Sallis and Cam Hildreth. Sallis, the second-leading scorer in the ACC at 19.2 points per game, has scored 20 or more points in seven of the last eight games. The All-ACC guard averaged 25.5 points in two games against Duke last season, dropping 29 on the Devils in an 83-79 win at the Joel. Hildreth is on a similar scoring stretch, reaching 20 or more points in three of the last four games. The English guard has made 26 of 30 free throws in the last three games. Duke, which is second nationally in defensive efficiency according to KenPom.com, will have to bring its best on the road against Wake Forest’s veteran scoring duo.

Kon Knueppel…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/duke-basketball-vs-wake-forest-090048792.html

Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2025-01-24 09:00:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.