Duke Blue Devils vs Auburn Tigers Picks and Predictions December 4th 2024

No. 2 Auburn Arrives for Prove-It Game at No. 9 Duke

Auburn’s Momentum Meets Duke’s Home-Court Advantage

Wednesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium will feature a battle of basketball heavyweights as No. 2 Auburn visits No. 9 Duke in a marquee matchup of the ACC-SEC Challenge. Both teams come into the clash battle-tested, making this an early-season prove-it game.

Auburn Riding Maui Momentum

Auburn (7-0) jumped to No. 2 in the latest Top 25 poll after dominating the Maui Invitational. The Tigers overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat then-No. 4 Iowa State, rolled past then-No. 12 North Carolina 85-72, and capped the run with a convincing 90-76 win over Memphis in the title game.

Fifth-year forward Johni Broome was the centerpiece of Auburn’s success, earning tournament MVP honors after averaging 21.7 points, 15 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and three blocks per game. Yet, Broome emphasized the team-first mentality that drives the Tigers.

“Winning player of the year doesn’t matter to me. I care about winning games, and making sure I can help my team in any way,” Broome said.

Broome’s 20.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game lead Auburn, with Chad Baker-Mazara (12.6 ppg) and Denver Jones (11.1 ppg) providing additional scoring depth. The Tigers will aim to secure their first-ever win against Duke, having lost all three previous meetings, including a six-point defeat in the 2018 Maui Invitational.

Duke Tested but Unsettled

Duke (5-2) has faced a gauntlet of ranked opponents, splitting games against then-No. 19 Kentucky and then-No. 17 Arizona before narrowly falling to No. 1 Kansas last week. The Blue Devils rebounded with a 70-48 win over Seattle on Friday, fueled by a suffocating defensive effort that limited the Redhawks to 21.3 percent shooting.

Despite the win, head coach Jon Scheyer sees room for improvement.

“I wasn’t really happy with much tonight, to be honest,” Scheyer said. “We rushed some shots, had too many turnovers. We just need to get back to practice.”

Duke’s attack is led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Fellow five-star recruit Kon Knueppel adds 13.4 points per contest, while 7-foot-2 big man Khaman Maluach anchors the interior with 8.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and strong shot-blocking. Maluach’s size and athleticism will be crucial in countering Broome and Auburn’s frontcourt.

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A Clash of Styles

The Tigers bring a veteran-laden roster with versatility and physicality, while the Blue Devils showcase raw but elite young talent. Auburn’s ability to control the paint and exploit Broome’s all-around skillset will be tested against Maluach and Duke’s emerging defense.

Both teams will look to capitalize on this early-season opportunity to solidify their standings as championship contenders. With Auburn’s sights set on maintaining its undefeated streak and Duke aiming to defend its home court, expect a high-energy, hard-fought battle in one of college basketball’s most iconic venues.