Duke and Arizona showdown features a dozen NBA Draft prospects
Nov 22, 2024, 12:24 PM
Duke's Cooper Flagg (2) high-fives fans after an NCAA college basketball game against Maine in Durham, N.C., Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
(AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
More power programs are scheduling home-and-home series against each other as conference realignment has made scheduling nonconference games more difficult.
It’s led to some must-see games at a time when big programs typically beat up on smaller schools in buy games.
This week will have a doozy: No. 12 Duke at No. 17 Arizona.
Two of college basketball’s top programs will meet Friday night at McKale Center in one of the most anticipated games of the nonconference season.
The Blue Devils (3-1) have a stacked roster that includes freshman Cooper Flagg, projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA Draft. Twelve players between the two teams are listed in ESPN’s latest draft big board of the top 100 prospects.
The Wildcats (2-1) are also loaded, led by preseason All-American Caleb Love, who knows a thing or two about Duke after playing three seasons at North Carolina.
Flagg has been as advertised, averaging 16.3 points and 9.5 rebounds. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel has played well, including a 22-point game against Maine in the season opener, and the Blue Devils still have Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster on their roster.
Duke blew through three of its first four games but fell short in a 77-72 loss to No. 9 Kentucky in Atlanta last week. The Blue Devils bounced back with an 85-35 trouncing of Wofford on Saturday.
“I’m proud of our team,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “It was a tough loss on Tuesday and I’m proud of their character and the way they responded today – I’m really proud of how we shared the ball and that’s part of having a special group.”
Arizona also is trying to rebound from a tough loss.
The Wildcats cruised through their first two games before running into a buzzsaw at No. 19 Wisconsin. Arizona never led, gave up 12 3-pointers and allowed John Tonje to score 41 points in the 103-88 loss.
“We’re going be a good team. I’m not worried about that,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “This was just a great opportunity on the road to challenge ourselves.”
NBA Draft prospects in Duke-Arizona showdown
Rankings based on ESPN’s latest draft big board by Jonathan Givony.
Arizona
Carter Bryant (13)
Motiejus Krivas (17)
KJ Lewis (34)
Jaden Bradley (55)
Caleb Love (89)
Duke
Cooper Flagg (1)
Kon Knueppel (6)
Khaman Maluach (8)
Tyrese Proctor (28)
Caleb Foster (44)
Isaiah Evans (49)
Sion James (54)
