Coral Gables, FLA. – The No. 3 Duke Blue Devils will visit the Miami Hurricanes on Tuesday night in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup at the Watsco Center.
The Blue Devils are ranked first in the ACC standings with a 24-3 record (15-1 ACC), boasting one of the most well-rounded rosters in the nation. The Hurricanes are at the bottom of the conference and have struggled since losing guard Nijel Pack to injury; they hold a record of 6-21 (2-14 ACC).
Duke enters Tuesday’s game on a dominant run, coming off of an extremely strong win against Illinois 110-67 at Madison Square Garden. Freshman forward Cooper Flagg leads the team in multiple statistical categories, averaging 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Freshman guard Kon Knueppel has also emerged as a reliable scoring option, averaging 13.2 points while shooting 38.3% from behind the arc.
On a current three-game losing streak, Miami has had a rough season and is continuing to navigate through the year dealing with the midseason resignation of longtime head coach Jim Larrañaga. Interim coach Bill Courtney has led the Hurricanes since late December. Senior guard Matthew Cleveland has been a bright spot, averaging 16.3 points per game on 50.7% shooting.
The battle between Flagg and Cleveland will be a focal point in tomorrow’s matchup. Flagg, a projected NBA lottery pick, has been a defensive force and playmaker, while Cleveland is Miami’s top scorer and rebounder. If Miami hopes to stay competitive, Cleveland will need a big night against Duke’s stingy defense.
Duke holds a 27-10 all-time series lead over Miami, including a 10-7 record at the Watsco Center. At home, the Blue Devils routed the Hurricanes 89-54 in their previous meeting on Jan. 14.
An intriguing storyline surrounds Miami’s coaching search, as reports suggest the Hurricanes have an interest in Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas as a candidate to replace Larrañaga. According to the Associated Press, Lucas and the Hurricanes will work toward finalizing that contract in the coming weeks.
Duke is heavily favored, but road games in the ACC can be unpredictable. The Blue Devils will look to maintain their momentum, while Miami hopes to play spoiler at home.
Photo Credits via The Duke Chronicle
