NC State @ Duke preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 19, 2020 ) Duke 66, NC State 88

North Carolina State looks to add another important line to its NCAA Tournament resume when the Wolfpack visit seventh-ranked Duke on Monday night seeking a sweep of the season series. NC State, which routed the Blue Devils 88-66 on Feb. 19 at home, is locked in a five-way tie for fifth place in the ACC after losing three of five, while Duke is tied for third and one game out of the top spot despite dropping three of four.

The Wolfpack rallied from six points down in the final eight minutes to earn a 77-73 home win against Pittsburgh and avoid a damaging result in their quest to reach the Big Dance for just the second time in five seasons, after they felt snubbed in 2018-19. “Right now we talk about it a lot,” NC State freshman center Manny Bates told reporters after Saturday’s win. “Every game is a big game for us, so we’re just going to have to come in and play our hearts out.” The loss to the Wolfpack started the slump for the Blue Devils, who lost in double overtime at Wake Forest 113-101 last Tuesday before dropping a 52-50 decision at Virginia on Saturday, but coach Mike Krzyzewski is not fazed by the dip. “I’ve said it from the get-go: We’re very much a developing team,” Krzyzewski told reporters. “We won a lot of games. Now we’ve lost three out of four and the world hasn’t come to an end or anything. … I hope this (game experience) will help us.”

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

ABOUT NC STATE (18-11, 9-9 ACC): Sophomore forward Jericole Hellems came up big with 16 points Saturday and Bates added season highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five blocked shots. “He’s a freshman and he’s gotten better,” coach Kevin Keatts told reporters of Bates, who leads the ACC in blocks per game (3.0). “If he starts scoring the ball offensively, then he could be a very good basketball player at NC State. Senior guard C.J. Boyce leads the team in scoring (13.4) while senior point guard Markell Johnson (13.1 points per game, including a game-high 28 against Duke) tops the ACC in assists (6.5).

ABOUT DUKE (23-6, 13-5): Freshman center Vernon Carey Jr. recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 boards versus Virginia and sophomore point guard Tre Jones scored 17, but the Blue Devils received just six field goals from eight other players. Carey tops the team in scoring (17.6) on 57.5 percent shooting, rebounds (8.8) and blocks (1.6) while Jones adds 16.1 points per contest and sits second behind Johnson on the ACC assists list at 6.3. Freshman guard Cassius Stanley is third on the team in scoring (12.1), but managed four points on 1-of-9 shooting Saturday after totaling 35 in the previous two games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. NC State junior G Devon Daniels recorded 25 points in the earlier win over Duke, but was held to just four Saturday.

2. Duke freshman F Wendell Moore Jr. registered a season-high 25 points against Wake Forest, but managed just two at Virginia.

3. The Blue Devils lead the ACC in field goal percentage (47.0), but were held to a season low (30.5) by Virginia on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Duke 84, NC State 70