On February 5, 2025, the second-ranked Duke Blue Devils are set to face the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome, hoping to extend their impressive winning streak to 16 games. Duke enters the matchup with a record of 19-2 and 11-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), having recently secured an 87-70 victory over archrival North Carolina. Syracuse, on the other hand, stands at 10-12 with a 4-7 record in conference play and is fresh off a 75-66 win against California.
Duke has dominated its competition this season, remaining undefeated when playing unranked teams and boasting perfect road performance at 6-0. The Blue Devils have won their last nine meetings against the Orange, including the previous season's contest where they triumphed 86-66. Although Coach Jon Scheyer's squad is strong favorites going in, they are still mindful of Oregon’s potential, especially on their home court, where the Orange is 8-4 overall.
Leading Duke’s charge are thrilling freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Flagg, projected as the potential No. 1 pick for the 2025 NBA Draft, has been on fire recently, scoring 20 or more points consistently. His standout performance included 28 points, seven rebounds, and three assists against NC State on January 27. Knueppel, also excelling, contributed significantly to the Tar Heels game with 22 points, five assists, and five rebounds—their dynamic play together has proven challenging for opponents.
Meanwhile, Syracuse has faced its share of struggles, having lost three of its last four games. Their second-leading scorer, Donnie Freeman, remains sidelined due to injury. The Orange’s performance is currently led by senior guard Lucas Taylor, who shone brightly with 19 points against California. They will need similar contributions to keep pace with the formidable Blue Devils.
For the Orange to rise to the occasion, their defense must impose itself, particularly their well-known 2-3 zone strategies, which could complicate Duke’s offensive flow. Syracuse's approach will be pivotal—will they have the defensive muscle to disrupt Duke’s rhythm and leverage the home court advantage to engage their fans? The pressure is on as they fight not only for victory but for improved standings within the ACC.
The anticipation builds as the game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET, covered live on ESPN2, with streaming options available on FuboTV, SlingTV, and DirecTV Stream. Fans will be watching closely to see if Duke solidifies its ACC dominance or if Syracuse can pull off the upset.
Historically, Duke has held the upper hand against Syracuse, leading their series 16-6 and having won 11 out of the last 12 meetings. This trend raises questions about Syracuse's current team composition and whether they can break the streak against strong competition. Duke’s recent performance against top teams leaves them primed for success, but it's important to acknowledge Syracuse's determination to reverse their recent fortunes.
Looking at the odds, Duke enters the game as heavy 17-point favorites with expectations of scoring hitting 143.5 total points. Analysts project Duke to cover the spread, with many of them optimistic for another victory marking their program's longest winning streak since the 2005-06 season. These elements combine to create high stakes for both teams on this midweek backdrop.
With the Duke Blue Devils, powerful scorer and team synergy will likely dictate the game's outcome, but Syracuse is backed by the passionate home crowd and must optimally execute their game plan to remain competitive. Every possession will matter, and the clock is ticking down as they prepare for the showdown at the Dome.
This ACC rivalry game promises excitement and intensity, reflecting the tradition and competitiveness of college basketball. Fans across the country will be tuned in to see if the Blue Devils can keep their streak alive or if the Orange can conjure up the magic needed to pull off the upset.