Preview: Duke at California in ACC Showdown

BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — The second-ranked Duke Blue Devils, boasting one of the nation’s premier records, face a tough road test against the California Golden Bears in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion.

Duke (15-1), the visiting team, brings a six-game winning streak to the West Coast. Their lone loss came by a single point to Texas Tech last month. The Blue Devils are led by star forward Cameron Boozer, who is averaging 22.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists over his last six games. In Duke’s most recent win, an 82-75 victory over SMU on Saturday, Boozer posted 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He was supported by guard Isaiah Evans (21 points) and center Patrick Ngongba (17 points).

The Golden Bears (13-4) look to rebound after two consecutive road losses at Virginia and Virginia Tech. California guard Dai Dai Ames has been a bright spot, scoring 21 points in the narrow 78-75 defeat at Virginia Tech. Ames is averaging 17.0 points per game over his last five contests.

This game is part of the ACC’s expanded scheduling. Duke, a perennial powerhouse, has dominated recent non-conference play but faces a capable California squad seeking a signature win to bolster its postseason resume. The Golden Bears have been strong at home this season, with notable victories over UCLA and Utah.

The matchup features a contrast in momentum, with Duke riding a wave of confidence and California aiming to stabilize after a challenging start to conference play. Containing Boozer will be a primary focus for the Bears’ defense, while Duke must account for Ames’ scoring punch.

Following this game, Duke remains in California to face Stanford on Saturday. California will host North Carolina on the same day.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST Wednesday.