Duke Eyes Road Mastery Against Virginia in ACC Clash

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The third-ranked Duke Blue Devils (22-3, 14-1 ACC) will aim to extend their impressive road performance as they face the Virginia Cavaliers (13-12, 6-8) on Monday at 8 p.m. ET at John Paul Jones Arena. After suffering a recent loss at Clemson, the Blue Devils have amassed significant success on the road, winning seven out of eight games by an average margin of nearly 20 points.

Duke has demonstrated dominance in away games, registering four victories by 25 points or more. However, the team faces stiff competition from Virginia, who enters the matchup on a three-game winning streak. In their previous encounters, Duke has won three of the last four battles against the Cavaliers, including the 2023 ACC Tournament championship game.

Historically, Duke holds a 7-5 record at Virginia’s home arena. Their last visit was a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Cavaliers. Virginia is looking to ensure they make the most of this opportunity to topple a ranked opponent—an elusive feat this season, having gone winless against top-15 teams, with an average loss margin of 21.6 points.

Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg is on the brink of hitting the 500-point milestone, entering his 26th game with 494 points, alongside team-leading stats in rebounds (187), assists (101), steals (40), and blocks (29). His recent performances have placed him as a pivotal figure for the Blue Devils, particularly as they navigate through a challenging season.

Duke’s junior guard Tyrese Proctor has also been notable, contributing an average of 19.4 points with a shooting efficiency of 55.4% over the last five games. Defensively, Sion James has stepped up as a significant facilitator with 32 assists and only six turnovers during that same span, illustrating the Blue Devils’ multidimensional approach to the game.

On the other hand, Virginia’s success has heavily relied on the impressive play of guards Isaac McKneely and Dai Dai Ames. McKneely is averaging 16.6 points across the team’s last three outings, while Ames is contributing a remarkable 18.6 points. If the Cavaliers aim to pull off an upset against the Blue Devils, McKneely and Ames will need to maintain their scoring prowess.

Virginia’s offensive strategy has been slightly hampered by their slow pace, currently ranked 362nd in adjusted tempo, making them the third-slowest team in the nation according to KenPom.com. In contrast, Duke has showcased a more aggressive playing style recently, highlighted by 22 fast-break points in their game against Stanford.

As both teams prepare for this critical matchup, with game predictions favoring Duke to win by a score of 72 to 50, their contrasting styles will be on display: Duke’s fast pace against Virginia’s methodical approach. Fans can catch the game on ESPN, with coverage provided by Dave O’Brien and Cory Alexander.