clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Men’s Basketball Preview: Boston College Eagles @ Duke Blue Devils

Into the Devil’s Den

NCAA Basketball: Boston College at Notre Dame
Derryck Thornton returns to where his college career started when BC goes to visit Duke
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Boston College has been riding a four game winning streak but now conference play gets under way, and gets under way in a bad way. The Eagles travel to Durham, to face Coach K and the #2 ranked Blue Devils. For Derryck Thornton its a homecoming to where he started his college career in 2015. It’s been a long journey for Thornton but perhaps not as long as the odds for a BC victory.

Where

Cameron Indoor Stadium

Durham, NC

When

December 31st, 2019

6 pm

How To Watch

The game is going to be broadcast on the new ACC Network, a collaboration between the ACC and ESPN. The ACC Network can be found on channel 612 for DirecTV, 402 for Dish Network, 388 for Spectrum, and for Verizon Fios channel is 329 for standard definition and channel 829 for high-def.

The game will also be available to those subscribed to the ACC Network via the ESPN app.

Furthermore, the ACC Network is available to those with subscriptions to Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, or Playstation VUE.

You can also find a TV provider with ACC Network by going on GetACC.com

How to Listen

WEEI 850 AM

Previewing the Blue Devils

At #2 in the country, Duke is the same powerhouse the Eagles see every year. The Blue Devils lone defeat came at home versus un-ranked Stephen F. Austin. Aside from that loss Duke has been motoring through the season. The Blue Devils are 8th in the country in scoring notching 82.9 points per game and only surrendering 63.6 points to their opponent. The story is much the same across every statistical category, with Duke dominating their opponents.

Duke has been led by sophomore guard Tre Jones, who it appears will play tonight after being sidelined with a foot injury the last few games, and the monster freshman Vernon Carey Jr. Carey leads Duke in every major individual statistical category except for assists and steals, and Tre Jones leads the Blue Devils in those.

Players to Watch Out For

There is no doubt its Vernon Carey Jr., as mentioned above he leads Duke with 18.7 points per game, 9 rebounds per game, and 2.1 blocks per game but he also leads the team in field goal and 3-pt percentage. This guy will be more than a handful for BC down in the paint.

How Does BC win?

BC needs Duke to have an off night and the Eagles need to play their best game of the season. BC has at times been on and off shooting throughout this four game winning streak, not tonight. The Eagles will need to shot at or just below fifty percent and hold the Blue Devils to 42 percent or lower to have a chance. BC also needs to do all the little things, rebounds, steals, any type of play where they can steal a possession. Essentially, the Eagles need a perfect storm of good breaks for them and bad breaks for Duke, to have a chance at the upset.