No. 2 Duke Faces Wake Forest in High-Stakes ACC Showdown

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (16-2, 8-0 ACC) will face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (15-4, 7-1) in a highly anticipated ACC matchup Saturday at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ESPN.

Duke enters the game riding a 12-game winning streak, the longest in the nation, while Wake Forest has won six straight since its lone conference loss to Clemson on Dec. 21. The Blue Devils are undefeated in ACC play, but Winston-Salem has been a challenging venue for them, as they have lost their last two games at the Joel.

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and a favorite for National Player of the Year, will be in the spotlight. Flagg has been dominant on the road this season, averaging 21.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in five away games. He is coming off a 28-point performance in Duke’s recent win at Boston College.

Wake Forest will rely on its dynamic backcourt duo of Hunter Sallis and Cam Hildreth. Sallis, the ACC’s second-leading scorer at 19.2 points per game, has scored 20 or more points in seven of his last eight games. Hildreth, an English guard, has been equally impressive, reaching the 20-point mark in three of his last four games.

Duke’s defense, ranked second nationally in efficiency by KenPom.com, will face a tough test against Wake Forest’s veteran scorers. The Blue Devils will also look to contributions from newcomers Kon Knueppel and James, who have shown flashes of brilliance this season. Knueppel scored a career-high 25 points against Miami earlier this month, while James has emerged as Duke’s top facilitator, averaging 5.2 assists per game in January.

Wake Forest is undefeated at home this season (10-0), while Duke is perfect on the road (5-0). The Demon Deacons have won their last two home games against Duke, including a court-storming victory last season. However, Duke has won six of the last eight meetings between the two teams.

Oddsmakers favor Duke, but Wake Forest’s strong home record and recent form suggest a competitive game. The Over/Under is set at 135.5 points, with the Over hitting in four of the last five meetings between the teams.

Rodd Baxley, who covers Duke, North Carolina, and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer, predicts a 73-63 victory for Duke. “The Deacs are an NCAA Tournament team, but the Devils are a national championship contender,” Baxley wrote.