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Preview: Duke vs. Elon
Eighth-ranked Duke plays its final non-conference game before opening ACC play when it faces Elon on Tuesday afternoon in a neutral court game at the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum, site of the 2014 ACC Tournament. The Blue Devils are 42-11 all-time under Mike Krzyzewski at the Greensboro Coliseum. The teams played last year at Duke with the Blue Devils, who were ranked No. 1 at the time, cruising to a 76-54 victory.
Elon, which comes in with a modest two-game win streak after prevailing at Florida Atlantic 67-62 on Dec. 22, has a shooters’ chance at pulling off the upset. The Phoenix are converting 42.5 percent from 3-point range, which ranks ninth nationally. However, Duke comes in rated No. 20 in the nation in 3-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot 27.9 percent beyond the arc.
TIME: 1 p.m. ET, ESPNU
ABOUT ELON (7-6): The Phoenix have four starters who average in double figures led by 6-10 forward Lucas Troutman (15.5), who was named to the 2013 College Insider.com Lou Henson Preseason All-American team. Sophomore Tanner Samson (12.9) ranks sixth in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage, having made 45-of-87 attempts. Sebastian Koch (13.9), a 6-8 senior from Munich, Germany, isn’t far behind, connecting on 45.6 percent on his 3s to rank 27th nationally.
ABOUT DUKE (10-2): The Blue Devils are led by arguably the nation’s top freshman in 6-8 forward Jabari Parker, who leads the team in scoring (22.2) and rebounding (7.8). Duke has had a 20-point scorer in all 12 games with Parker recording an ACC-best 10 20-point games. Sophomore forward Rodney Hood is second on the team in scoring (17.6) and ranks third in the ACC in field goal percentage (54.3).
TIP-INS
1. Duke PG Quinn Cook leads the ACC in assists (6.5).
2. The Blue Devils have made 10 or more 3-point field goals in a game six times this season.
3. Duke has won 24 straight games in the month of December with the last loss coming to Wisconsin 73-69 on Dec. 2, 2009.
PREDICTION: Duke 86, Elon 64
