CBB – Wisconsin at Duke

A pair of undefeated teams take to court tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium as the feature game from the first day of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.


2007-11-27

A pair of undefeated teams take to court tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium as the feature game from the first day of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Duke, 6-0 and champion of the Maui Invitational, hosts 5-0 Wisconsin in front of the Cameron Crazies in Durham. The Blue Devils are an 8-1/2 point favorite and tip-time is set for 9:00 PM ET on ESPN.

Duke's biggest win this season was against a previously undefeated, ranked team from Wisconsin. Now, the surging seventh-ranked Blue Devils look to knock off a similar foe from the Badger state when No. 20 Wisconsin visits in the first-ever meeting between the programs.

After beating then-No. 11 Marquette 77-73 last Wednesday in the final of the Maui Invitational - then routing Eastern Kentucky 78-43 Sunday - Duke jumped six spots in the top 25 to its highest ranking since last New Year's Day.

With the help of a pair of freshmen, the Blue Devils have begun to reassert themselves after last season's rare first-round exit from the NCAA tournament.

Forward Kyle Singler was the MVP of the Maui Invitational, and leads Duke with 14.3 points per game, but it was fellow freshman Taylor King who had 27 points off the bench in just 21 minutes against Eastern Kentucky. Duke's bench is averaging 33.3 ppg this season after putting up just 14.4 per game last season.

The Badgers (5-0) are known for their defense, as they were 10th-best in the nation last season, allowing just 57.9 points per game. Coach Bo Ryan's team was upset as a No. 2 seed in the second round of the NCAA tournament, but has rebounded well from the loss of top scorer Alando Tucker and point guard Kammron Taylor, bursting out to its best start since the 1996-97 season.

After Saturday's 68-49 home win over Georgia, Wisconsin entered the top 25 for the first time this season, but this will be the Badgers' first road game. Since Ryan took over in Madison before the 2001-02 season, Wisconsin is just 31-36 on the road next to a 96-5 home mark.

Wisconsin is also 0-4 all-time on the road in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, while Duke is the only team that has never lost a game in the event, going 8-0. The Blue Devils have also won 54 straight non-conference home games.

Still, Krzyzewski has said he's worried about Wisconsin's size, including 6-foot-11 senior Brian Butch, 6-11 senior Greg Stiemsma and 6-7 junior Joe Krabbenhoft. Duke, which starts three guards, is relatively small, with Singler and Lance Thomas (both 6-8) the only starters over 6-4.

"It's not like Wisconsin is big and slow either. They're big and mobile," Krzyzewski said. "They have a swing offense where the big guys come out, and that means that everyone has to be pretty good with the ball. The fact is, they have some older guys so they're accustomed to doing it. It's a different offense than what is run in our league and they run it well."

But it was guards Trevon Hughes and Michael Flowers who combined for 23 second-half points to put Georgia away. The Badgers trailed 32-23 at the half, but outscored Georgia 45-17 in the second frame.

Hughes and Flowers also lead Wisconsin's dominating defense. Badger opponents are shooting just 34.0 percent this season, and Wisconsin is tops in the nation, allowing just 45.6 ppg.

The top trend for today’s game shows Duke struggling of late in big games: DUKE is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) vs. top caliber teams - outscoring their opponents by 12+ points/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was DUKE 67.1, OPPONENT 69.8 - (Rating = 1*)

However, several StatFox Super Situation back the hosts, namely: Play On - Home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (DUKE) - in non-conference games, off a home win. (571-417 since 1997.) (57.8%, +112.3 units. Rating = 2*)

It should be a great two days of basketball showcasing a pair of the nation’s top conferences.

StatFox Game Estimator indicates Wisconsin with a great chance to pull the upset, 69-68.

StatFox Power Rating Line: Duke -7

StatFox Outplay Factor Line: Wisconsin -3

CBB – Wisconsin at Duke News

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