Duke Eyes ACC Supremacy, Syracuse Seeks Momentum in Monday Night Clash
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, No. 4 Duke is hitting its stride at the right time.
The Blue Devils are sitting comfortably atop the ACC standings, winners of back-to-back games since their lone conference stumble. Their latest triumph-a gritty 67-54 win over No.
20 Clemson-wasn’t just another notch in the win column. It was a statement in defensive intensity and team identity.
Don’t let the scoreboard fool you: this wasn’t about flashy offense. This was about grit, effort, and lockdown defense-the kind of performance that championship teams build their foundation on. And Duke knows it.
“I think we needed a game like this,” said freshman forward Cameron Boozer, who continues to look like a seasoned vet. “An elite defensive performance, a lot of effort.”
Effort’s been a constant for Boozer, who’s already led all players in points, rebounds, and assists in six games this season. That puts him ahead of ACC legends like Tim Duncan in that category over the last 30 years. Not bad company for a freshman.
Now, with a quick turnaround before Monday night’s matchup against Syracuse in Durham, the Blue Devils are leaning into the challenge.
“It’s pretty much how the (NCAA) Tournament is,” Boozer said. “It’s really just about moving on… washing [the last game] all away and getting prepared for Monday.”
That tournament mindset is exactly what Duke needs right now. They’ve already taken down eight ranked teams this season, and they’re eyeing their 30th straight home win. This team isn’t just winning-they’re doing it with consistency and confidence.
Across the court, Syracuse is trying to keep a spark alive. The Orange are coming off two emotional home wins, including a double-overtime thriller against Cal and a last-second 79-78 comeback victory over SMU, sealed by Nate Kingz’s bucket with just 2.3 seconds on the clock.
Head coach Adrian Autry has been impressed with his team’s resilience.
“There’s no quit in this team,” he said. “We have some dips here and there, but they continue to fight.”
That fight will be tested in Durham. Syracuse hasn’t won three straight since early January, and trying to do it against a top-five Duke squad on the road is as tall an order as it gets.
“It’s Duke, obviously, playing at their home court,” Autry said. “We’ll get to work, and we’ll put together a game plan and go down there and execute it.”
One encouraging sign for the Orange? The deep contributions they’re getting.
All five starters scored within the first five minutes against SMU, and the team matched its season-high with 11 made threes. Freshman Kiyan Anthony, recently benched, bounced back in a big way with 13 points-tying his best performance in ACC play.
“He made some big shots, finished plays, and he played with the intensity you need to play with,” Autry said. “The one thing about Kiyan is that he’s resilient.”
That depth also meant fewer minutes for guard J.J. Starling, who logged just 19 minutes and scored four points. But Autry isn’t worried.
“This is one game. JJ will be ready on Monday,” he said. “He’s the leader of this team.”
Duke will look to keep its dominance on the glass going-they’ve outrebounded 21 of their 25 opponents so far. And there’s a little added intrigue with Duke reserve Maliq Brown facing his former team in Syracuse.
Monday night’s matchup isn’t just another game on the schedule. For Duke, it’s a chance to solidify its grip on the ACC and continue shaping a championship-caliber identity. For Syracuse, it’s a shot to keep the momentum rolling and prove they can hang with the conference’s elite.
Two teams. One court. And plenty on the line.