Georgia Tech @ Duke preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 11, 2018 ) Duke 80, Georgia Tech 69

Tre Jones is one of several freshmen who have contributed to second-ranked Duke’s success this season, and the guard is set to return from a right shoulder injury for Saturday’s home game against Georgia Tech. Jones, who ranks second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 5.69, suffered a separated AC joint in the team's loss to Syracuse on Jan. 14 but only missed two contests as Duke remained tied at the top of the ACC standings.

“He has really progressed well and, hopefully, he will be ready to go on Saturday,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told team broadcaster David Shumate on Friday, describing Jones’ status as “probable.” The Blue Devils won both games without Jones, upending No. 3 Virginia last weekend before receiving a total of 51 points from freshmen RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson in Tuesday’s 79-64 victory at Pittsburgh. The Yellow Jackets have dealt with their fair share of injuries, but sophomore guard Jose Alvarado and junior forward Abdoulaye Gueye returned to action in Tuesday’s 63-61 triumph over Notre Dame. “I told my guys to hold their heads up,” Alvarado told reporters as he scored 16 points three days after missing a loss to Louisville with a groin injury. “Don’t let Louisville lose us two games.”

TV: Noon ET, ACC Network, RSN

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (11-8, 3-3 ACC): Alvarado leads the Yellow Jackets in scoring (13.8 points), assists (3.2) and steals (1.9). Junior forward James Banks III recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds on Tuesday for his second consecutive double-double and averages a team-best 15.7 points in ACC contests. Gueye, who missed two games with an undisclosed medical issue, returned to score 13 points against the Fighting Irish.

ABOUT DUKE (16-2, 5-1): The Blue Devils feature the third-highest scoring offense in the country at 88.6 points per game, powered by the top two scorers in the ACC in Barrett (23.9 points - 10th nationally) and Williamson (21.7 - 19th). Williamson made his first 10 shots on Tuesday and enters the weekend seventh in the nation and tops in the conference in field-goal percentage (67). The Blue Devils are tough as always defensively and average 43.22 rebounds (fourth in the country).

TIP-INS

1. Georgia Tech is second in the ACC and eighth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (38.3), while Duke ranks fourth and 11th, respectively (38.7).

2. Duke is second in the country to Gonzaga in scoring margin (21.7 points).

3. Jones ranks fourth on the Blue Devils in scoring (8.1 points) and is tied for second with 33 assists.

PREDICTION: Duke 93, Georgia Tech 67