By: Ben McCormick
February 6, 2023
Saturday's win over North Carolina wasn't Duke's best win on paper. In fact, Duke only shot 39 percent from the floor as a team against a team that is now on the tournament bubble. It wasn't the best win, but it has led Duke to its highest peak of the season. Now, the question is whether it will keep climbing, or fall.
Monday night's quick turnaround at No. 19 Miami will tell a lot about this team's future. The Blue Devils are following up a big rivalry win less than 48 hours after they ran celebrating into the locker room. As if that isn't enough, they are playing a road game against a top 25 team on the road, and it's a team they have already beat by just one possession that will be seeking revenge.
Miami is coming off of two big wins over Virginia Tech and Clemson, and is looking continue it's success with a win over Duke to even the season series between the two teams on the season. Duke has won just two games on the road all season, a one point win at Boston College and a 43-point win over Georgia Tech. That said, for a team whose best road win is Boston College, a game played on the floor of a top 25 team will present all sorts of problems.
Miami is led by Isaiah Wong, who Duke contained in the first match between the two teams. Wong scored just 7 points. Duke, however, did struggle to limit Miami's Nijel Pack from three at times in the matchup in Durham.
Where Duke has an advantage is in the paint. Norchad Omier is the center for the Hurricanes. He is underweighted at just 6'7, but averages a double-double. Duke's Dereck Lively II and Kyle Filipowski have been playing very well lately and will look to capitalize on their height advantage.
Jordan Miller led Miami in scoring against Duke in Cameron with 19 points. Containing Miller will be a big point of emphasis this time around. On the other hand, Duke's Jeremy Roach has been hot lately, scoring 20+ points in the Blue Devils' last two games.
While it wouldn't hurt too bad to lose a road game to a top 25 team, a win would mean everything to this Duke team and its momentum moving forward.
@Duke_Wisdom
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