Wake Forest at Duke
DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — A surging Duke team riding a 10-game win streak will host a struggling Wake Forest squad seeking a season-defining upset when the Atlantic Coast Conference rivals meet Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Blue Devils (17-1, 6-0 ACC), whose only loss came against Texas Tech in December, have been dominant in conference play, winning by an average of 12.2 points. They are led by star forward Cameron Boozer, who is averaging 24.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists over his last six games. The sophomore dropped 30 points in just 33 minutes in Duke’s most recent outing, an 80-50 road rout of Stanford on Jan. 17.
Conversely, the Demon Deacons (11-8, 2-5) have lost four of their last five, including a 91-79 home defeat to SMU on Tuesday. Their conference record places them near the bottom of the ACC standings. Wake Forest’s hopes hinge largely on the offensive output of guard Juke Harris, who has scored 27 or more points in three of the last five games. Harris poured in 27 in the loss to SMU but has received inconsistent support.
The historical rivalry adds weight to the matchup, though recent history favors Duke, which has won the last four meetings. The intimidating atmosphere of Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Duke is 9-0 this season, presents a formidable challenge for a Wake Forest team that is 1-4 in true road games.
For Duke, the game is a chance to solidify its ACC supremacy and national championship credentials. For Wake Forest, it represents a critical opportunity to halt its slide and secure a résumé-transforming victory. The Demon Deacons must find an answer for Boozer and Duke’s efficient offense, which shoots over 50% from the field, while generating enough scoring beyond Harris to keep pace.
Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon. Duke hosts Louisville on Monday, Jan. 26, while Wake Forest travels to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Jan. 27.