Miami Faces a Monumental Challenge Against No. 2 Duke

Duke’s Dominance Sets the Stage for Another Blowout

The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (24-3, 15-1 ACC) have been rolling through the ACC, and they don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon.

Winners of four straight games, Duke is fresh off a 110-67 dismantling of Illinois at Madison Square Garden. That win helped them jump one spot in the AP Top 25, even though previous No. 2 Florida didn’t lose last week.

Their opponent on Tuesday? A struggling Miami team (6-21, 2-14 ACC) that has lost three straight and is enduring its worst season since 1993.

In the first matchup between these teams on January 14, Duke embarrassed Miami with an 89-54 blowout. The rematch in Coral Gables isn’t expected to be much different, with Duke favored by 23.5 points.

Cooper Flagg Leading Duke’s Title Push

Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg has lived up to the hype, and then some.

The projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft continues to showcase why he’s one of the most complete players in college basketball.

Against Illinois, Flagg:

Scored 16 points
Grabbed 7 rebounds
Dished out 5 assists
Played only 23 minutes

“He’s just different,” ESPN’s Seth Greenberg said. “A guy of his talent could chase shots. But he plays with poise, lets the game come to him. Then he makes one of those plays where you go, ‘Whoa!'”

Flagg’s Season Averages:

19.5 points per game
7.7 rebounds per game
4.0 assists per game
1.6 steals per game
1.1 blocks per game

With his ability to impact the game in multiple ways, Flagg has Duke looking like a legitimate national championship contender.

Duke’s Supporting Cast is Thriving

While Flagg has been the face of the program, Duke has plenty of depth.

Key Duke Players:

Kon Knueppel (13.2 PPG, 6-7 freshman guard) – Had 25 points against Miami in their last meeting.
Khaman Maluach (8.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 7-2 freshman center) – A defensive force in the paint.
Sion James (8.3 PPG, 6-6 junior guard) – A steady two-way player.
Tyrese Proctor (12.0 PPG, 6-6 junior guard) – A skilled shot-maker.

Duke’s starting five all scored in double figures against Illinois, and they racked up 28 assists as a team.

“The guys are sharing the ball and playing with confidence,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said after the Illinois win.

Against an injury-riddled Miami team, expect another balanced effort from the Blue Devils.

Miami Struggling to Find Answers

It has been a season to forget for interim coach Bill Courtney and the Hurricanes.

Miami has dropped three straight games and is coming off an 81-68 home loss to Virginia Tech, where they squandered a six-point second-half lead.

“We tried everything,” Courtney said. “We couldn’t get stops when we needed them. We didn’t get out to the shooters. We didn’t communicate. We lost our man.”

Now, Miami has to deal with one of the most complete teams in the country while missing key players.

Injury Issues for the Hurricanes

Matthew Cleveland (16.3 PPG) – Missed his first game of the season against Virginia Tech with a left leg injury. Status uncertain vs. Duke.
Nigel Pack (13.9 PPG) – Has missed most of the season with an injury. Miami badly misses his experience.

With two of their top scorers out, the Hurricanes lack the firepower to keep up with Duke.

Can Miami Keep It Competitive?

Miami does have some bright spots, including veteran big man Lynn Kidd and sharpshooter A.J. Staton-McCray.

Key Miami Players:

Lynn Kidd (11.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6-10 center) – Led the team with 16 points and 9 rebounds vs. Virginia Tech.
Brandon Johnson (7.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 6-8 forward) – Knocked down two threes in the last game.
A.J. Staton-McCray (7.6 PPG, 6-5 guard) – Scored 21 points, making 4-of-6 threes against Virginia Tech.

Even with some solid individual performances, Miami hasn’t been able to put together a full 40 minutes.

With Duke’s elite depth and defensive pressure, Miami will have to play a near-perfect game just to keep it respectable.

What’s at Stake?

For Duke:

Continue building momentum for the NCAA Tournament.
Maintain a top-two ranking nationally.
Stay undefeated against Miami under Jon Scheyer.

For Miami:

Avoid another lopsided loss like their 35-point defeat to Duke in January.
Show progress under interim coach Bill Courtney.
Possibly audition for a new coaching staff, with reports that Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas is expected to take over Miami next season.

Prediction: Another Rout for Duke

There’s no reason to believe this game will be close.

Duke completely dismantled Miami by 35 points last time, and now the Hurricanes are even more depleted.

Get expert college basketball picks! 🏀🔥 Stay ahead of the game with top predictions and betting insights!

Three Key Factors That Will Decide the Game:

Can Miami avoid another embarrassing defeat? – The Hurricanes have shown flashes of competitiveness but haven’t finished games well.

Can Miami slow down Cooper Flagg? – The answer is almost certainly no.

Will Duke dominate the glass? – With Miami missing size and depth, expect a rebounding edge for the Blue Devils.

Miami Hurricanes vs Duke Blue Devils Picks and Predictions February 25th 2025