Duke vs. South Dakota: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 11: Cameron Crazies and fans of the Duke Blue Devils hold up signs following the game against the Utah Valley Wolverines at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 99-69 and the win gives Mike Krzyzewski his 1,000th victory as Duke's head coach and his 1,073rd overall (73 at Army). (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

As part of the ACC’s domination of the Big Ten in the annual challenge between the league’s, the Duke Blue Devils beat Indiana 91-81 in Bloomington. But Coach K’s team needs to be on alert this week, as they take on a dangerous team from the Summit League in South Dakota.

TV schedule: Saturday, Dec. 2, 3:30 p.m. ET. ESPN2

Arena: Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina

Duke (7-0) returns home after putting in the finishing touches on the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers. They may not have blown them out as expected, but it’s hard to even win at Indiana, let alone by a big margin.

It’s become clockwork for Marvin Bagley, with another 20 and 10 game with 23 points and 10 boards. Wendell Carter also chips in with a double-double as well in the frontcourt. Grayson Allen had 21 points but had to play all 40 minutes due to the closeness of the game throughout.

As expected, Duke has one of the best offenses in college basketball, currently ranked No. 9 in offensive efficiency. With all five starters more than capable of scoring 20 points any given night, Duke can always afford one or even two guys having an off night and still win.

The Blue Devils might not want to have an off night to their next opponent, the Coyotes of South Dakota (7-2). Since head coach Craig Smith arrived, South Dakota has been in the top-tier of the Summit. That looks to be the case this season, with the only two losses coming in a one-point defeat to Northern Colorado and by just five to now No. 23 TCU.

In their recent 82-63 win over UMKC, Matt Mooney had a season-high 30 points, bringing the 66’3 guard’s average to over 20 a game. Tyler Hagedome is the other double-digit scorer at 15 ppg, and Trey Burch-Manning the top option in the post for the Coyotes.

Next: Wendell Carter says Duke should do undefeated

Ultimately for Duke, unless they allow Mooney to go for over 30 on them, it’s unlikely that the Coyotes can keep up offensively for 40 minutes. Look for Bagley and Carter to continue their double-double streak in this one.

Prediction: Duke 95 – South Dakota 73

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