NC State (9-10, 2-6) will face Duke (17-2, 9-0) tonight at 8:30 PM on ESPN. The Wolfpack is looking to snap a four-game losing streak, having lost six of their last seven games. Beating Duke won’t be an easy task, as the Blue Devils rank third in the ACC in scoring offense, averaging 80.32 points per game.

Duke’s ACC Stat Team Rankings (NC State’s Opposing Stats in Parentheses):

• Scoring Offense: 3rd – 80.32 (NC State Scoring Defense: 5th – 67.05)
• Scoring Defense: 1st – 59.32 (NC State Scoring Offense: 15th – 70.74)
• Scoring Margin: 1st – 21.0 (11th – 3.68)
• Free Throw Percentage: 5th – 75.8% (16th – 71.1%)
• Field Goal Percentage: 2nd – 47.9% (NC State FG% Defense: 12th – 44.0%)
• Field Goal Percentage Defense: 1st – 37.0% (NC State FG%: 11th – 44.4%)
• 3PT Percentage: 4th – 37.0% (NC State 3PT% Defense: 8th – 33.0%)
• 3PT Percentage Defense: 14th – 35.2% (NC State 3PT%: 15th – 31.5%)
• Rebounding: 2nd – 39.84 (NC State Rebounding Defense: 16th – 35.63)
• Rebounding Defense: 1st – 30.47 (NC State Rebounding: 16th – 32.53)
• Rebounding Margin: 1st – +9.37 (17th – -3.11)
• Blocked Shots: 9th – 3.74 (4th – 4.16)
• Assists: 1st – 17.16 (14th – 12.63)
• Steals: 9th – 6.53 (7th – 6.95)
• Turnover Margin: 8th – 1.42 (1st – 3.95)
• Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1st – 1.65 (6th – 1.36)
• Offensive Rebounds: 4th – 11.26 (11th – 10.68)
• Defensive Rebounds: 1st – 28.58 (18th – 21.84)

The Blue Devils’ two losses were Quad 1 losses, falling to Kentucky 72-77 in the State Farm Champions Classic and losing to Kansas 72-75 in the Terry’s Chocolate Vegas Showdown. Duke is currently ranked 2nd in both the AP Poll and the NET rankings. Kentucky is ranked 9th in the AP Poll and 14th in the NET, while Kansas is ranked 12th in the AP Poll and 8th in the NET.

When analyzing Duke’s starting lineup, it truly begins and ends with freshman phenom, power forward Cooper Flagg (6’9″, 205 lbs). He leads the Blue Devils in points (19.5), rebounds (8.0), assists (4.2), blocks (1.5), and steals (1.2).

Flagg ranks 2nd in the ACC in scoring, 7th in rebounds, 10th in assists, and 7th in blocks, placing him in the Top-10 in all five categories.

Duke has two other players averaging over 10 points per game. Freshman small forward Kon Knueppel (6’7″, 217 lbs) is averaging 12.8 points and shooting 37.9% from three.

Junior shooting guard Tyrese Proctor (6’6″, 183 lbs) is contributing 10.7 points per game, shooting 39.4% from three.

Senior point guard Sion James (6’6″, 220 lbs) averages 7.3 points and 3.1 assists, shooting 49% from the field and 37.1% from three.

Freshman center Khaman Maluach (7’2″, 250 lbs) chips in 8.5 points and 6.1 rebounds, shooting an impressive 78.8% from the field.

Freshman Isaiah James (6’6″, 175 lbs) is the top contributor off the bench for the Blue Devils, averaging 7.3 points and shooting a blistering 45.7% from three.