Duke Blue Devils (5-2, 0-0 ACC) vs Auburn Tigers (7-0, 0-0 SEC)
Wednesday, Dec. 4 • 9:15 p.m. ET
Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314) • Durham, NC • ACC/SEC Challenge
TV: ESPN
No. 9 Duke hosts No. 2 Auburn on Dec. 4, at 9:15 p.m. for the ACC/SEC Challenge on ESPN. Auburn is just the second non-conference opponent ranked among the top-2 in the nation to visit Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1965. The last to do so was top-ranked Michigan on Dec. 5, 1992 – a 79-68 Duke victory.
The game pits Duke’s No. 1 defense against Auburn’s No. 1 offense, according to KenPom’s national adjusted defensive/offensive efficiency ratings.
Broadcast Information
TV/Video Stream
ESPN
Play-by-Play Dan Shulman
Analyst Jay Bilas
Reporter Kris Budden
Producer Eric Mosley
Director Mike Roig
Radio
Blue Devil Sports Net.
Play-by-Play David Shumate
Analyst John Roth
Engineer John Rose
In Durham 96.5 FM & 620 AM
SiriusXM 84
This Series
Overall
Duke leads, 4-0
In Durham, NC Duke leads, 1-0
at Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke leads, 1-0
In Auburn, AL —
at Neville Arena —
Neutral Sites Duke leads, 3-0
Last Meeting Duke 78, Auburn 72 (Nov. 20, 2018 – Maui Invitational)
Auburn Tigers
The Auburn Tigers are the nation’s number 2 team currently and boast an undefeated record. They have three wins over nationally-ranked opponents, defeating No. 5 Iowa State, No. 12 North Carolina, and No. 4 Houston. Auburn ranks fifth in the nation in field goal percentage (.525), seventh in blocked shots per game (6.0), and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.93).
The Tigers boast 5 players in double figures. Johni Broome, a 6-10 senior forward/center, leads the nation with 12.9 rebounds per game, ranks third in blocks per game (3.14) and double-doubles (5), and 22nd in points per game (20.7). Chad Baker-Mazara (12.6), Denver Jones (11.1), Chaney Johnson (10.6), and Miles Kelly (10) are all posting double-figure scoring averages next to Broome’s
Duke Blue Devils
Duke enters Wednesday with a 5-2 record and is currently ranked #9 in the AP. The Blue Devils rank fourth in the country in field goal percentage defense (.352), ninth in scoring defense (58.6), 12th in 3-pointers per game (11.1), and 17th in scoring margin (+22.1). Duke is the tallest team in the country, according to KenPom, with an average height of 79.6 inches, better than 6-7 per Blue Devil.
Cooper Flagg tops Duke in points (111), rebounds (59), assists (29) and blocks (10). Flagg is averaging 15.9 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Freshman Kon Knueppel and junior Tyrese Proctor round out the double-figure scorers with 13.9 and 12.4, respectively. Proctor has made two 3-pointers or more in all seven regular-season games and both exhibition contests to lead Duke with 23 triples. He’s made a career-best five triples versus Kansas and is now shooting 46.9% from distance this season (23-of-49).
Stats Comparison
| G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 7 | 40.0 | 28.7 | 62.0 | .463 | 17.6 | 31.1 | .564 | 11.1 | 30.9 | .361 | 12.1 | 16.6 | .733 | 11.9 | 29.4 | 41.3 | 17.4 | 9.4 | 4.1 | 11.6 | 17.0 | 80.7 |
| Auburn | 7 | 40.0 | 31.7 | 60.4 | .525 | 21.9 | 33.3 | .657 | 9.9 | 27.1 | .363 | 13.4 | 17.9 | .752 | 10.0 | 27.3 | 37.3 | 18.4 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 9.6 | 17.4 | 86.7 |
Duke Projected Starters
PG Caleb Foster 6’5, 202lbs – Sophomore
SG Tyrese Proctor 6’6, 183lbs – Junior
SF Kon Knueppel 6’7, 217lbs – Freshman
PF Cooper Flagg 6’9, 205lbs – Freshman
C Khaman Maluach 7’2, 250lbs – Freshman
Auburn Projected Starters
G Denver Jones 6’4, 205lbs – Senior
G Miles Kelly 6’6, 190lbs – Senior
G Chad Baker-Mazara 6’7, 180lbs – Senior
F Johni Broome 6’10, 240lbs – Senior
C Dylan Cardwell 6’11, 255lbs – Grad Student
Final Thoughts
Auburn has been called a juggernaut, and that is exactly what they’ve been thus far this season. Like Kansas, Auburn is one of the oldest teams in College Basketball and this experience for Duke is one that should pay dividends in the later months of the season.
The Tiger offense starts with Johni Broome, but it certainly doesn’t end there. With 5 double-figure scorers and the number 1 offense in the nation. They score it all over the floor. Broome is a 3-level scorer; there isn’t an area on the floor he can’t dominate, and at 6’10 he’s a true nightmare to guard. He has the ability to back down most defenders, but also the ability to shoot over most defenders. You can’t guard him with a traditional big because he shoots the rock too well. I expect Flagg to draw the assignment, but it’s going to be a tough one and one that could put him in foul jeopardy. The guards that surround him are both athletic and long and score the basketball with aplomb. While Auburn can be streaky from beyond the arc, if the Blue Devils allow them to get hot it’s going to be a long day. This may be the toughest test for the Duke defense but a chance to show what their offense can do when hitting on all cylinders.
Some things Duke cannot do defensively:
- Cannot run with Auburn, they’ll run you out of the gym – too deep.
- Can’t come off shooters – especially Chad Baker-Mazara & Miles Kelly who both shoot it over 40%.
Things Duke needs to do offensively:
- Hit shots, Duke has no chance if they don’t capitalize on their open looks from beyond the arc.
- Cut hard and with purpose the basketball.
- Finish through contact, get to the line.
- Own the boards.
- Be stronger with the basketball
