DURHAM, N.C. - The ACC/SEC Challenge is here, headlined by the No. 2 Auburn Tigers (7-0) traveling to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils (5-2).
After going undefeated in the Maui Invitational, Auburn looks to continue building on the best résumé in college basketball. Wins over Houston, Iowa State, North Carolina, and Memphis have cemented Auburn as the number-one team in the country, but the Blue Devils are not far behind.
Jon Scheyer’s freshman-heavy squad led by phenom Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, is only one or two key plays away from being 7-0 and atop the polls. The group's inexperience has shown in their early matchups with Kentucky and Kansas, but the raw talent on this team is not something to overlook.
The story of this game will be the immovable object of Duke’s defense and the unstoppable force of Auburn’s offense. Auburn comes into this game with the number one offense in the country per Kenpom, and Duke with the number one defense.
The Tigers' offense continues to be led by senior Johni Broome, who currently leads Auburn in the three major statistical categories with 20.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.
Another key to Bruce Pearl’s early season success is the team's depth. Four out of the five starters average at least 10 points a game, while Dylan Cardwell, though not among them, has been invaluable due to his elite efficiency and Swiss-army-knife-like skillset.
Coach Pearl recently placed Miles Kelly as the starter at shooting guard, moving veteran JP Pegues to the bench. Pegues sits in reserve along with Chaney Johnson and Tahaad Pettiford, who are having outstanding seasons.
On the other side, Duke’s defensive capabilities are nothing short of the real deal. What makes Duke’s defense a nightmare to plan around is their size. The Blue Devils' roster boasts no player under 6-foot-5, with 7-foot-2 freshman Khaman Maluach in the post. Because of their length and athleticism at every position, they can aggressively switch and close out on any and every ball screen.
The Tigers will need to show up poised and expect to battle more than just the Duke players, as Cameron-Indoor Stadium will be rocking.
The powerhouse showdown and coaching chess match between John Scheyer and Bruce Pearl will tip off at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, streaming on ESPN and over the air on the Auburn Sports Network.
