Duke @ Boston College preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 31, 2019 ) Boston College 49, Duke 88

Seventh-ranked Duke is piling up the points during its latest winning streak, which stands at three entering a Tuesday night ACC matchup at Boston College. The Blue Devils are averaging 88.3 points during the three-game run and posted their second-best output of the season in a 97-88 victory at Syracuse on Saturday.

Freshman forward Vernon Carey Jr. produced his 10th double-double with 26 points and 17 rebounds Saturday as he continues to carry the load for Duke. "He was outstanding tonight and he played hungry," coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters of Carey. "Not that he hasn't before, but he played really hungry tonight and we needed it. This is a big win for us." The Eagles are coming off a big win of their own after knocking off North Carolina 71-70 in Chapel Hill on Saturday. The Blue Devils rolled to an 88-49 win at home in the first meeting Dec. 31 to take a 22-3 series lead, but they were knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten and out of the No. 1 spot in the country when they last visited Chestnut Hill two seasons ago.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT DUKE (18-3, 8-2 ACC): Krzyzewski also had plenty of praise for sophomore guard Tre Jones, who had 17 points and six assists at Syracuse and leads the ACC in assists with 6.8 per game. Freshman guard Cassius Stanley chipped in 15 points Saturday to raise his average to 12.3, third on the team behind Carey (17.8) and Jones (15.0). Freshman forward Wendell Moore Jr. (7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds), one of two Blue Devils players to score in double figures in the rout of the Eagles earlier this season, returned Saturday from a hand injury that cost him six games.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (11-11, 5-6): The Eagles have already matched their ACC win total from a season ago and have their sights set on a winning mark in league play for the first time since 2010-11. "This means everything," senior guard Jared Hamilton told reporters after scoring a season high-tying 18 points at North Carolina. "This is a huge win for us. This is a huge win for our program. It's really a turning point. I think this team, if we stay where we're at right now, the sky is the limit." Senior guard Derryck Thornton added 15 points and he leads a balanced Boston College attack with 12.8 per contest.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Eagles senior F Nik Popovic had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting Saturday after producing a total of 20 points on 8-of-23 in his first three games since returning from a back injury.

2. Blue Devils senior F Javin DeLaurier has made all nine of his shot attempts over a span of seven games.

3. Duke freshman F Matthew Hurt scored a career-high 25 points in the first meeting.

PREDICTION: Duke 79, Boston College 71