No. 3 Duke is set to clash with No. 19 Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, December 20. The game, which starts at 8 p.m., will be broadcasted on ESPN, featuring commentators Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas. David Shumate and John Roth will provide coverage on the Blue Devil Sports Network. This matchup will mark Duke’s fifth game against a top-25 team this season, highlighting the tough competition they have faced so far.
In their strong start to the season, Duke has recorded victories over formidable opponents, including No. 7 Michigan State, No. 15 Florida, No. 22 Arkansas, and No. 25 Kansas. With a current streak of nine consecutive wins and only one loss in their last 11 games at Madison Square Garden, Duke commands a respectable record of 43 wins against 18 losses at this iconic venue.
Head coach Jon Scheyer is reaching impressive milestones, with the upcoming game being his 29th at MSG, where he holds a remarkable 23-5 record as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. Recently, Scheyer achieved the fastest 100 wins in ACC history, surpassing Vic Bubas’ record after just 122 games.
Duke’s standout players include Cameron Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II. Boozer leads the nation with an impressive average of 23.3 points per game and has already been recognized multiple times as ACC Player of the Week. Ngongba, noted for his defensive skills, is making an impact with an average of 1.6 blocks per game and recently recorded his first career double-double.
As a unit, Duke excels in various statistical categories. They boast the top field goal percentage defense in the country at .346, rank fourth in scoring defense at 60.8 points per game, and are 12th in rebound margin. The Blue Devils are also noted for their remarkable rebounding prowess, ranking ninth nationally with an average of 43.4 rebounds per game.
In their last matchup against Lipscomb, Duke demonstrated their dominance with a 97-73 victory. They out-rebounded their opponents dramatically by a margin of 34 and recorded an impressive defensive performance, limiting Lipscomb to only 39.3% shooting.
As the Blue Devils prepare for their matchup against Texas Tech, they are not only looking to maintain their unbeaten record this season but are also aiming to further solidify their status among the top teams in college basketball. With a combination of offensive and defensive strength, coupled with a roster full of talented players, hopes remain high for Duke’s success this season.