Preview:  Duke Blue Devils (7-2) vs. Boston College Eagles (5-3)

 #17 Duke Blue Devils (7-2, 0-0) vs. Boston College (5-3, 0-0) 

Game #10 • Home Game #6 • Saturday, Dec. 3 • 4 p.m. ET 

Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314) • Durham, N.C. 

TV: ACC Network | WatchESPN

Radio: Blue Devils Sports Network from LEARFIELD 

No. 17 Duke opens conference play with a Saturday matinee at Cameron Indoor Stadium versus Boston College at 4 p.m. Duke is 51-18 (.739) all-time in ACC openers and has won four straight. At home in an ACC opener, the Blue Devils are 36-6 all-time and have won eight straight and 14 of the last 15. Saturday marks Duke’s second earliest ACC game. The program twice began the ACC loop on Dec. 2 — beating Clemson in 1955 and 2001.

History

The game marks the fourth time Duke plays BC in the Blue Devils’ ACC opener — Duke has won twice: Jan. 3, 2015, 85-62, on the road and Jan. 2, 2016, 81-64, in Durham. BC clipped Duke in the ACC opener on Dec. 9, 2017 in Chestnut Hill, 89-84. Duke has won 19 of the 21 meetings vs. BC in the ACC regular season. Duke is 12-0 versus Boston College at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Head coach Jon Scheyer filled in as head coach for Mike Krzyzewski (illness) in an 83-82 Duke win on Jan. 6, 2021.

The Series

Overall Duke leads, 26-3
In Durham, NC Duke leads, 12-0
at Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke leads, 12-0
In Chestnut Hill, MA Duke leads, 10-2
at Conte Forum Duke leads, 10-2
Neutral Sites Duke leads, 4-1
Last Meeting Duke 72-61 (Feb. 12, 2022)
Last 10 Games in Series Duke leads, 9-1 

About Duke

Duke is leading the ACC in both rebounding (41.1) and scoring defense (58.7). The Blue Devils have out-rebounded eight of their first nine opponents and are fourth nationally in offensive rebounds (15.4), 10th in rebound margin (+11.1) and 27th in rebounding (41.1). Duke opened the season with a double-digit rebound margin in each of the first six games — the longest such stretch (at any point in a season) in program history.

The ACC Rookie of the Week in each of the season’s first three weeks, Kyle Filipowski has scored in double figures in all nine games. His 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds lead the team. Filipowski is fourth in the ACC in rebounds and has more boards than any Division-I freshman. Junior captain Jeremy Roach (right) is averaging 16.0 points and 4.0 assists over Duke’s last three games (averaged 11.3 points in the first six), including 21 points (one shy of his career high) in the Xavier win. Roach is 39 shy of his 700th career point. On the season Roach is averaging 12.9 points per game, he also leads the team in assists at 3.7 per contest.

About Boston College

Boston College enters Saturday’s ACC opener with a 5-3 mark and coming off an 88-67 setback at Nebraska on Wednesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Grad transfer Makai Ashton-Langford leads the team in scoring at 12.1 points, while TJ Bickerstaff’s 6.9 rebounds are the team high. Jaeden Zackery also scores in double figures for the Eagles at 10.6 per game.

Devin McGlockton had career-highs of the bench in points (20) and rebounds (11) en route to his first career double-double at Nebraska. The redshirt freshman connected on 7-of-9 field goals (1-1 3FG) in 26 minutes off the bench. McGlockton grabbed eight of his 11 boards in the second half; six of the 11 were on the offensive glass. He ranks 99th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (13.1), per KenPom. Among all ACC players without a start, he ranks second in scoring (7.6 ppg), first in rebounds (5.1), and second in blocks (1.3). He is the first BC reserve to log a double-double this season. Quinten Post did so twice during the 2021-22 campaign.

T.J. Bickerstaff has picked up where he left off last season – as one of the top rebounders in the ACC and the nation. Bickerstaff ranks 12th in the ACC, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game during the 2022-23 season. He posted double digits in the rebounding column in each of the first three games this season and four times overall. Last season, the 6-9 forward was eighth in the ACC (7.2 rpg); he ranks as fifth-leading returning rebounder in the league. Bickerstaff was one of 15 players nationally – two in the ACC (Bacot – UNC) to have multiple games with 17 rebounds or more.

Second-year head coach Earl Grant spent seven years at College of Charleston where he led the Cougars to a top-four finish in the CAA in each of his last five seasons, including the 2018 regular season and tournament championships. Grant was a Clemson assistant before Charleston.

Stats Comparison

Probable Starters

Thoughts

If the Blue Devils come out with a very efficient offense then this game could be a runaway. Boston College does struggle to score the basketball, ranking 326th in points per game. Conversely they are a good defensive team and average 5 blocked shots a game. Duke has to do what Duke does best, rebound the basketball, and get out on the break. Neither team shoot the 3 effectively and the team that can get hot from the outside may be the team that takes this game.

Turnovers will be the X-factor for the Blue Devils on both sides of the ball. If the Blue Devils turn the ball over and give this Eagles team extra possessions – especially live ball fast break opportunities this game could get ugly. On the other side of the ball if the Blue Devils can force BC into turnovers then the game and the offense flows a lot easier for Jon Scheyer’s crew.

HEAD COACH JON SCHEYER 

On what changes conference play brings to the season: 

“It’s a level of play. It goes up and we all know each other very well. Even though we have a new team and Boston College, they have a new team as well. But they have a bunch of returning players. There’s history there. And you know, you’re 0-0. There’s nobody that has a loss, there’s nobody that has a win. So, every game is important. And this league is a great tradition and a great history of big-time games. So for our guys, we’re excited about the opportunity … it’s the second-earliest game we’ve ever had for a conference game so that’s interesting and an adjustment. But we’re ready and anxious to get started with ACC play.” 

On his assessment of Ryan Young: 

“He’s been terrific. He’s been great. He’s all about winning. Could not care less about scoring, statistics, anything other than what the team needs. And that includes starting, coming off the bench, minutes. And when he’s in the game, he’s a big-time competitor. I mean, he goes out after every rebound, every coverage, all the subtleties of the game he takes to heart. Scouting reports, he’s the one in the locker room that’s always reminding our guys ‘alright, remember when we guard this action, here’s how we’re defending it’. And his maturity, he’s been absolutely incredible for us, and we need him to continue to build. I think the biggest thing with him is he can be too unselfish, and he can really score down there. So when he gets the ball, we want him to go to work and attack the rim.” 

On how patient Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively II have had to be returning from injury: 

“Yeah, I don’t think they’re very patient. Which is what makes them really good. I don’t want them to be patient, and by the way, I’m not patient either. I have to remind myself to do that. And, you know, they’re in here earlier this morning working. They’ve been, especially as of late, because as you’re coming back from injury, we’ve had to hold them back with what they can do. You’re trying to get fully healthy and all that. So, they’ve been on a mission, they’re in here every day getting extra work in and I think it’s only a matter of time, as long as we have the approach where we’re just working and going after it, which these two guys have. So, I don’t think any of us are patient, but we also understand this is a long season and we’ve got a long way to go still.” 

On how Kyle Filipowski has handled being the leading scorer and rebounder: 

“He’s handled it well. I mean, he’s done a good job. The thing with Kyle is that he can hurt you a lot of different ways, inside and out, and it’s going to continue to get hard for him because defenses will do different things, we’ll continue to see different matchups or different coverages. Do they double, do they not? But really, even though he’s been our leading scorer, he’s not caught up in just the numbers or doing that. He’s just trying to win. I think the thing I love the most is how he’s rebounded. He attacks the offensive glass. He’s been defensive rebounding and he’s been defending. He’s got to to continue to do those things.” 

On Tyrese Proctor’s development throughout the early season: 

“Sometimes guys miss, and they’re all over the place. I mean, almost every one of his misses have been back rim or in-and-out and so for him to see one go down the other night I think was important. And, you know, for him, he’s way more than just a scorer shooter. He can really pass, and we need him to play-make for us. And not to judge yourself based off of shooting. I think as a young player, you get caught up in doing that. ‘If my shots not falling, am I playing well?’. And I thought he broke through with that in the Purdue game.” 

On his thoughts of Coach Elko being named ACC Football Coach of the Year: 

“Yeah, Coach Elko has done a great job. I mean, me and him started off at the same time, we developed a really good bond and I have a lot of respect for what he’s done as an assistant coach leading up to taking over for our program here at Duke. Just so proud 

of what the football team has done and what they stand for. I think I still need to steal maybe a couple of his players; he’s got some guys that can play now. But we really support each other and there’s no question in my mind he deserved it. Our program is, it’s still only going to get better from here with his leadership, so really happy for him. I did text him; I haven’t heard back yet so I don’t know if he’s gone big time on me or anything, but that’s my guy right there. I’m happy for him and proud of the football team.” 

JUNIOR GUARD JEREMY ROACH 

On how useful the defense has been in improving the offense: 

“I mean, definitely useful. Getting our offense going is a big thing. But I mean, we try to really locking in on the defensive end, that can never fall off. We know our offense will come as the season goes along, as the young guys keep learning. We keep learning about our team. But defense has to be stable because it always leads to offense. Like I said, offense is going to come, we have enough scoring and we’re versatile enough. Just got to keep transforming like Coach Scheyer says, and as the season goes along, our offense will come.” 

On getting comfortable with Dereck Lively II in pick-and-roll situations: 

“Definitely made a lot of progress. Dereck, he’s such a freak of nature. To be seven foot, can jump out the gym, can run the floor, can stretch the floor. I mean, with him just not having as much practice time, it definitely needs some time just to get our rhythm, but I feel just keeping his confidence up and just knowing that someone’s going to be out there looking for him for sure, because I mean, I want him to grow, and I want him to get better. So just looking for him any opportunity that I can is going to help his confidence and is going to help us throughout the season.” 

GRADUATE CENTER RYAN YOUNG 

On playing power conference teams lately and how it has prepared him for ACC play: 

“Obviously, this will be my first ACC game coming up here, but I’ve had my fair share of conference games in the Big Ten and power-five games overall. I think it’s been great for us to get a different look, all the power-five teams we’ve played up to date, and the smaller non-conference schools, have been different. Obviously, playing Purdue and Zach Edey, that gives you a very different unique look and we had to craft a different style of defense than we’re used to. And Ohio State was a much different team and then Kansas a much different team than them. So, for me specifically, for sure. And then a lot, for our young guys, to be able to get that kind of experience and see those different types of offenses and teams overall I think is really important. One of the things that, you know, I talked with Coach Scheyer when I was first thinking about coming here was ‘how does the ACC differ from the Big Ten?’ and one of the things he mentioned is just that you see a lot of different things in the ACC versus the Big Ten in terms of the way teams play and the way teams are built. So, I think for myself, and for all of us, just getting a different look at different types of teams and teaching our young guys how to prep for different offenses, different defenses and seeing different styles of teams and different personnels has been awesome. It’s more experience under the belt for us.” 

On how guarding against different styles has helped him improve individually: 

“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Zach Edey was a bit of an anomaly, but I’ve played against both those guys for a few years now. It’s good just with overall toughness. Personally, I think one of the things that I add value with and bring to the game is just making those gritty plays, being a quote-unquote dirty work player. That’s something that I need to take a lot of pride in, you know, with some of the things that I lack athletically and being able to make plays above the rim, I need to be make up for with toughness plays and being able to compete with big guys in the post. So again, it’s just great experience. Like I mentioned, I’ve played against those guys for a few years now but just more and more experience. Learning from every game, you watch film, and you get better from just more and more experience against different and bigger players.”