Duke basketball vs Virginia prediction: Will Wahoos slow down Kon Knueppel, Cooper Flagg?

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Duke basketball’s last road trip ended with a loss at Clemson, but the Blue Devils have produced blowout wins in six of their eight road games.

The third-ranked Blue Devils (22-3, 14-1 ACC) have won their seven road games by an average margin of 19.8 points, including four victories by 25 or more points. Duke will try to maintain that mastery in a quick turnaround against Virginia (13-12, 6-8) on Monday (8 p.m., ESPN) in Charlottesville.

The Devils have won three of the last four games against the Cavaliers, including the 2023 ACC Tournament championship game, but they’re 7-5 overall at John Paul Jones Arena. In their last trip to JPJ, the Blue Devils lost in overtime to the Hoos, who will carry a three-game winning streak into Monday’s matchup.

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

Duke basketball freshman Kon Knueppel scoring vs Virginia

Duke freshman Kon Knueppel had a quiet week against the ACC’s California teams, scoring a combined 15 points against Cal and Stanford. Knueppel continues to contribute in other ways, particularly in how he was able to steal extra possessions with his hustle against the Cardinal. But after scoring single-digit points in back-to-back games, it feels like he’s due for another big offensive showing. After a scoreless game at Boston College in mid-January, Knueppel averaged 16.4 points over the next five games, including a 22-point effort against UNC.

Dai Dai Ames, Isaac McKneely are Virginia basketball players to watch

Virginia guards Isaac McKneely and Dai Dai Ames have been the key players during the Hoos’ hot streak. Over the last three games, McKneely is averaging 16.6 points and Ames is contributing an average of 18.6 points. If Virginia wants any chance at pulling off an upset, McKneely and Ames have to produce big-time performances.

Duke fast-break points vs Virginia slow tempo

Tony Bennett might be gone, but Ron Sanchez is a Bennett disciple and the Hoos continue to play at a…

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Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2025-02-16 16:05:00

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