Fresh off a hard fought win against Georgia Tech Wednesday night, the No. 20 N.C. State Wolfpack (13-2, 2-0 ACC) take on the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (15-0, 2-0 ACC) this Saturday in Raleigh. Both teams sit atop the ACC standings and are the only two ACC schools that are currently ranked in the top 25.
This is a game that has been circled on both teams’ calendars since the media picked the Wolfpack to win the ACC regular season title before the season started. State is looking to re-assert its dominance in the ACC after more than twenty years of drought. Duke, on the other hand, wants to maintain its No. 1 ranking and stay at the top of the ACC standings.
“This is a dream for me, playing against the No. 1 team in the nation at home,” freshman guard Rodney Purvis said. “We’re in Raleigh and I’m from here so this is a benchmark for me.”
Saturday will mark the second straight year that a top-ranked team has come into Raleigh. The Wolfpack lost to top-ranked Syracuse last year by a score of 88-72.
Both teams come into the game hot. Duke has posted early season wins over three of the four teams in the 2012 Final Four (Kentucky, Louisville and Ohio State) and is so far undefeated in the 2012-13 season. The Wolfpack, since two early season losses to Oklahoma State and Michigan, have fought back and enter Saturday riding a nine game winning streak. State also has a nine game home winning streak dating back to last season.
“I can’t wait for Saturday,” junior guard Lorenzo Brown said. “They’ve been playing hard. Their whole team has been playing pretty good. I mean we have, too, so it’s going to be a good game.”
Recent history against our Triangle neighbors doesn’t bode well for State. State’s record against Duke over the past five years is 1-6, including a 78-73 heartbreaker against the Blue Devils last year in Durham. The Pack was up by 20 points with 11:33 left in the second half before Duke surged back to escape with the victory. The Wolfpack’s lone victory came in 2009 in Raleigh as State students stormed the court after the 88-74 victory.
Duke will come into the game with one of its stars sidelined by injury. Senior forward Ryan Kelly, a Raleigh native from Ravenscroft High School, incurred an injury to his right foot during Duke’s 68-40 win against Clemson on Tuesday and will be out indefinitely.
Kelly is a key starter for the Blue Devils, averaging 13.4 points per game and stretching the floor with his 3-point shooting ability. His presence allows senior center Mason Plumlee, an early contender for ACC player of the year, to get easy one v. one looks down low which Plumlee can finish with ease.
With Kelly unable to play on Saturday, State can focus more on locking down Plumlee in the post and senior guard Seth Curry on the wings. Plumlee and Curry both lead the Blue Devils in points per game, 17.7 and 16, respectively. Another player to watch on the Blue Devils is sophomore guard Quinn Cook. Cook runs the point for Duke and can do it all, averaging 11.4 points and 6.1 assists per game including an impressive 3-point percentage of .458.
Saturday’s game promises to be the most high profile ACC clash so far in the season. State is talented enough to win the ACC regular season title, but if they are to achieve this goal then they must consistently defeat perennial ACC powerhouses such as Duke. Saturday’s game will be a major indicator of who has the best chance to win the ACC. Tip off is scheduled for noon at the PNC Arena.