NC State vs. Duke | Gameday Preview and How to Watch

NC State Wolfpack vs. Duke Blue Devils
Time: 4pm
Location: Raleigh, NC
TV: ESPN
Line: Duke -3

Preview of Duke:
Duke comes in at 5-6 in the ACC, putting them tied for 8th in the division with a 1 game lead over the pack. Leading the way for the Blue Devils has been Sophmore Matthew Hurt averaging 17.7 points per game. Hurt is a dangerous player at 6’9 with the ability to knock it down from deep, shooting 40% for the season from beyond the arc. After that, you have Duke’s highly touted freshman DJ Steward and Jalen Johnson who both average over double figures for the season, scoring 13 and 11 points a game respectively. The Blue Devils have struggled to beat teams this year and are coming off a 3 game losing streak against the likes of Miami, UNC, and a down Notre Dame tea. Their best win of the season is against an up and down Clemson team at home.

What’s on the line for NC State?
The Pack currently sits at 4-7 in the ACC and is a game behind the Blue Devils but sits at 11th in the ACC. In order to have a winning record in the ACC and any stab at the NCAA tournament, State will need to win 5 of its next 6 games followed by a couple of solid wins in the ACC Tournament. But it would have to start right here and now for the Pack to get back on track, making this game a must-win for Keatts and these players. Also, at the very least, it’s always nice to have W’s over both Duke and UNC, especially in a season when both those teams are struggling.

For more information on Keys to winning against Duke, see our post here.