ACC Basketball: Duke vs. Virginia preview, prediction, TV schedule
By Taylor Sturm
The biggest game on the college basketball schedule for Wednesday, the Duke Blue Devils and Virginia Cavaliers face off in what could be the deciding factor in the race for the ACC regular season title.
TV Schedule: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Arena: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA
In the midst of a five game win streak that includes victories over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and North Carolina Tar Heels, the Duke Blue Devils head into the last stretch of the regular season with a ton of momentum. This is the best Duke has played all season, and it could not come at a better time for Coach K’s team.
Meanwhile, the Virginia Cavaliers are coming off of a disappointing road loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies in double-overtime. Virginia, now one game out of the race for the ACC regular season title, will need to defend their home court against the Blue Devils in order to keep the pressure on North Carolina – who they play twice to end the season.
Virginia and Duke are two of the best teams in college basketball, and it would not be surprising to me at all if both the Cavaliers and Blue Devils make it to the Final Four. Virginia pushed the Villanova Wildcats on the road already this season, while Duke pushed the Kansas Jayhawks. These are two, deep-run capable teams that have proven themselves against top opposition time and time again.
However, the Cavaliers have lost three of their last six games, sandwiching blowout wins between each loss. With the loss to the Hokies, it’s time for a massive win in a massive game. Virginia dominates due to a higher motivation factor, but the loss will be what turns Duke into an unstoppable force down the stretch.
Prediction: Virginia 75, Duke 64