DECEMBER 20, 7:00PM
Cameron Indoor Stadium
ESPN2

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The Duke Blue Devils travel to Madison Square Garden to take on Texas Tech in the Ameritus Insurance Classic. Texas Tech will come in ranked in the top 15 and will be the 4th ranked team this young Duke team has faced. The Red Raiders come into Cameron undefeated at 10-0. Known as a defensive juggernaut, the Red Raiders have yet to give up 70 points to an opponent this season and on average they allow 51.2 per game. The Red Raiders will bring their number 1 ranked defense to take on the Blue Devils who have the number 2 offense. The Red Raiders are 18th in the nation in field goal percentage, 70th in 3 point field goal percentage but only 341st in attempts. Duke and Texas Tech are top 40 in blocked shots.

Jarrett Culver leads the Red Raiders with a 19.1 points per game average. Culver, as a sophomore, is also leading the Red Raiders in assists per game with 4.4 and rebounds with 5.7 per game. Texas Tech starts 3 seniors and 2 sophomores and run a 3 guard lineup. Duke has 2 players averaging in double figures, the aforementioned Jarrett Culver and senior guard Matt Mooney - a 6'3 guard who averages 11 points and 3 assists per game.

The Blue Devils enter Thursday having won 5 straight games after losing to Gonzaga in Maui. Duke brings a high powered offense to New York, predicated on getting out into transition and turning defense into offense. The Blue Devils average 11 steals per game and 8 blocked shots.

R.J. Barrett leads the Blue Devils in scoring with 24.5 points per game, the freshman also averages 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Zion Williamson leads Duke in rebounds with 9 per game, just missing out on averaging a double-double by one rebound (20ppg). Tre Jones leads the Blue Devils in assists with 5.6 per game. Duke as a team averages 18.9 per game.

The Blue Devils will have to execute much better in their half court against a stout Red Raider defense. The Duke defense may struggle to turn the Red Raiders over which will limit the amount of possessions for the Blue Devils; valuing the ball will be paramount as well as not falling prey to living with bad shots from beyond the arc. A slow start could put the Blue Devils in jeopardy but this young team seems to rise in the huge games in big environment.

Duke Probable Starters

• G Tre Jones 6'2 183lbs
• F R.J. Barrett 6'7 202lbs
• F Cam Reddish 6'8 218lbs
• F Zion Williamson 6'7 285lbs
• C Javin DeLaurier 6'10 234lbs

Texas Tech Probable Starters

• G Matt Mooney 6'3 200lbs
• G Jarrett Culver 6'6 195lbs
• G Davide Moretti 6'2 175lbs
• F Tariq Owens 6'10 205lbs
• C Norense Odiase 6'8 250lbs