Duke 2025-2026 Season
Overall Record: 22-2
ACC Record: 11-1
Previous 3 Games
2/10:
W – 70 – 54 vs Pittsburgh @ Away2/7: L – 68 – 71 vs Duke @ Away
2/3: W – 67 – 49 vs Boston College @ Home
Duke Personnel
Starters
Bench
Key Analytics
(Per KenPom.com – National Rank in ())
KenPom Ranking – 3
Offense
Adjusted Efficiency: 125.5 (9) – ACC Only: 119.8 (1)
Adjusted Tempo: 65.8 (204) – ACC Only: 65.6 (15)
Average Possession Length: 16.7 (86) – ACC Only: 18.3 (11)
Effective Field Goal%: 57.4 (15) – ACC Only: 56.1(2)
Offensive Rebound%: 37 (21) – ACC Only: 37.5 (1)
Three Point%: 34.1 (172) – ACC Only: 32.6 (13)
Two Point %: 62.2 (4) – ACC Only: 61
(1)
Defense
Adjusted Efficiency: 89.8 (3) – ACC Only: 98.2 (2)
Adjusted Tempo: 65.8 (265) – ACC Only: 65.6 (15)
Average Possession Length: 16.7 (86) – ACC Only: 18.1(16)
Effective Field Goal%: 57.4 (15) – ACC Only: 50.9 (5)
Offensive Rebound%: 37 (21) – ACC Only: 23.8 (2)
Three Point%: 34.1 (172) – ACC Only: 34.6 (9)
Two Point %: 62.2 (4) – ACC Only: 50 (4)
Key Stat for Clemson
Offense
(Per KenPom.com – ACC Rank in ())
Three Point %
Clemson Offense: 35.7 (4)
Duke Defense: 34.6 (9)
Thoughts:
Clemson has to find a way to score; getting an extra point for the ball going through the hoop will be useful. UNC hit 8-19 from deep in their upset of the Blue Devils last week, and similar accuracy from the Tigers would be much appreciated. The Tigers only hit five three-pointers in the loss to Virginia Tech; they’ll need to come close to doubling that to beat the Blue Devils.
Defense
Efficiency
Clemson Defense: 97.4 (1)
Duke Offense: 119.8 (1)
Thoughts:
As Gorilla Monsoon once said, we’ve got a battle between an irresistible force and an immovable object. Clemson has the best defense in the ACC, and Duke has the best offense. The Tigers have to find a way to slow down Duke’s defense, because scoring could be at a premium against the NBA-sized Duke on the other end of the court. This needs to be a gritty game that makes Duke fans want to snap their slide rules. Clemson’s defense has to win this matchup; Duke’s offense doesn’t.
Brief Thoughts
To steal a line from the Clemson football team (they don’t need it anymore), “they don’t put ACC Championship rings on smooth hands.”
Ok, that may work better in football, because Duke’s manicured hands have been adorned with enough jewelry to make Liberace blush. Still, the only way forward for this Clemson team against Duke is directly through the Blue Devils. If this is a referendum on the most skilled basketball team, the Tigers may as well save themself the trip. This game has to be a referendum on toughness.
Granted, they’re going to need Duke’s cooperation because if the Blue Devils bring their A game, there isn’t much you can do about it. They have better players.
Not so fast though …
If there is one man in the world more capable of turning a basketball game into a mud wrestling contest, it’s Bradley Robert Brownell from Evansville, Indiana.
Cam Boozer is a menace in the paint, but he’s about to run up against someone, in RJ Godfrey, who is just as wide and athletic. That’s not something the Duke freshman has had to deal with much this season. He’s usually significantly stronger than anyone he plays against at the power forward spot. If Duke center Patrick Ngongba misses his second straight game with a wrist injury, which looks likely to happen, RJ and Cam are about to go to war on the block. That, of course, means that RJ will foul out in 7 minutes of action in Cameron Indoor, but in theory, Clemson can ask a few questions of Cam that other teams in the ACC can’t.
I’m going to guess he still has the answers, but he’s going to have to work harder than usual to dominate the game on Saturday.
Other than that, it’s the same old Clemson story. Play stellar defense, hit enough shots to stay in the game, and hope things fall into place in the last two minutes. Things tend to fall out of place for the Tigers at Duke, but as always, hope springs eternal.
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Prediction
KenPom
Duke: 73
Clemson: 60
Drew
Duke: 67
Clemson: 68
Looking Into the Crystal Ball
It will be a cold day in Cameron Indoor before I pick Duke to win a college basketball game. Which, of course, is why I tell everyone to never EVER take my advice on sports gambling. My hate clouds my vision, which is how college sports are supposed to work.
Virginia Tech used up Clemson’s quota of stupid shots last game. Duke can’t buy a bucket. Clemson throws everything, including the kitchen sink a Boozer and slows him down enough to pull out the game on a last second Jestin Porter three.
Once again, this is called manifesting.
You’re welcome.
