Duke at NC State: 2023 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

In an important ACC battle, Duke looks to get a key road win against the NC State Wolfpack. Can the Blue Devils avoid another upset defeat?

TV schedule: Wednesday, January 4th, 7:00 pm ET. ACC Network

Arena: PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina

After a 1-1 start in ACC play, Duke (11-3, 2-1) got back to over .500 in league play last weekend, within 86-67 victory over Florida State. Both Dereck Lively and Dariq Whitehead returned after missing the last game against Wake Forest (illness), with Whitehead coming off the bench to score 16 points on 5/11 shooting.

While the usual leading scorers, Kyle Filipowski and Jeremy Roach, struggled in the game, guard Jaylen Blakes, who got his first career start, went for 17 points on 4/6 from three-point range. And forward Ryan Young had a game-high 20 points off the bench on a perfect 7/7 shooting from the field. The Blue Devils’ rotation continues to shake up but with everyone seemingly healthy, should have some more clarity going forward. But they’ll have to do something they haven’t done all season, win a true road game.

NC State (11-4, 1-3) had a good start to the season and was solid throughout the non-conference. But with just a win over lowly Louisville in ACC play, there are questions as to whether or not they’re a top-half team in the league. And now, the Wolfpack are facing a 1-4 start if they lose at home to Duke.

They’re coming off a 78-64 loss to Clemson, with the two leading scorers, Terquavion Smith and Jarkel Joiner, combining for 27 points on just 10/34 shooting from the field. Starting center D.J. Burns had five points and six rebounds in 19 minutes but most importantly, the loss of big man Dusan Mahoric has proven costly to the Wolfpack’s depth, particularly against bigger teams.

You don’t get much bigger than Duke, who has Lively, Filipowski, Mark Mitchell, and Ryan Young in its rotation. NC State normally plays La Salle transfer Jack Clark at the four-spot but he’s struggled as of late offensively. The Blue Devils have a great chance to exploit that matchup and the Wolfpack don’t have many alternatives if Clark doesn’t handle the Duke bigs.

There’s always a chance that Smith goes off for NC State for 30+ points to keep them at home and the perimeter defense of the Blue Devils could be exploited. But with the massive advantage down low for the favorites, it’s hard to envision the upset.

Prediction: Duke 80, NC State 66