Duke Opens ACC Play Against Georgia Tech in New Year’s Eve Showdown at Cameron Indoor
The calendar flips to conference season for Duke basketball, and the Blue Devils are diving in headfirst.
No. 5 Duke (11-1) returns to action this New Year’s Eve with an ACC opener at home against Georgia Tech (9-4), tipping off at 4 p.m.
ET inside the storied walls of Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network and is also available for streaming through Fubo.
This marks the 94th all-time meeting between these two programs, and recent history leans heavily in Duke’s favor. The Blue Devils have taken eight of the last 10 matchups, including a hard-fought 78-70 win in last year’s ACC Tournament quarterfinals. When it comes to playing at home, Duke has been especially dominant-boasting a 36-4 record against the Yellow Jackets in Durham.
But this one comes with a bit of an edge. Duke is stepping onto the floor for the first time in 10 days, still stinging from a narrow 82-81 loss to Texas Tech on Dec. 20 at Madison Square Garden. It was their first blemish of the season-and the kind of game that tends to sharpen a team’s focus heading into conference play.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, is coming in on a high note. The Yellow Jackets are fresh off an 89-65 win over Florida A&M on Dec. 28, a tune-up that saw them flex their offensive depth and get back on track after a few early-season inconsistencies.
Injury Report
As of the latest ACC injury update, Duke will be without Iffy Ufochukwu for this matchup. Georgia Tech is also dealing with a key absence, as Dyllan Thompson will be sidelined for the Yellow Jackets.
How to Watch
- TV: ACC Network
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)
Tip-Off Time
- Date: Wednesday, Dec. 31
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC
What’s at Stake
For Duke, this is about more than just opening ACC play with a win-it’s about resetting the tone after a near-miss against Texas Tech. The Blue Devils have shown flashes of dominance throughout the non-conference slate, with signature wins over Kansas, Arkansas, and Florida.
But now comes the grind. The ACC gauntlet doesn’t offer many breathers, and getting off on the right foot-especially at home-is critical.
Georgia Tech, on the other hand, has a chance to make a major statement. A road win at Cameron Indoor would be a defining moment for a Yellow Jackets team that’s shown promise but is still looking for a breakthrough victory to hang its hat on.
Duke’s Season So Far: A Quick Recap
The Blue Devils stormed through their non-conference schedule with a mix of high-octane offense and timely defense. They opened with a pair of exhibition wins, including a strong showing at Tennessee, and then ripped off 11 straight regular-season victories before the Texas Tech stumble.
Some of the highlights? A 78-66 win over Kansas at Madison Square Garden, a gritty 67-66 escape against Florida in the ACC/SEC Challenge, and a convincing 97-73 rout of Lipscomb. Even in the loss to Texas Tech, Duke showed resilience, clawing back late and nearly pulling off the comeback.
What’s Next for Duke
Following the Georgia Tech game, Duke hits the road for a pair of ACC matchups-first at Florida State on Jan. 3, then at Louisville on Jan. 6. It’s a stretch that will test the Blue Devils’ depth and maturity early in the conference slate.
Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule:
- Jan. 3: at Florida State
- Jan. 6: at Louisville
- Jan. 10: vs. SMU
- Jan. 14: at California
- Jan. 17: at Stanford
- Jan. 24: vs. Wake Forest
- Jan. 26: vs. Louisville
- Jan. 31: at Virginia Tech
From there, the road only gets tougher-with rivalry games, neutral-site showcases, and the always-anticipated clash with North Carolina looming on the horizon.
Bottom Line
Duke enters ACC play with a chance to reestablish momentum and remind the league why it’s a top-five team. Georgia Tech brings enough talent to make things interesting, but the Blue Devils will be looking to set the tone early and protect their home court-something they’ve done exceptionally well over the years against the Yellow Jackets.
Conference play is here. The stakes are higher, the spotlight is brighter, and for Duke, the real season starts now.