Next Up - NC State

27.01.2025 17:00

WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 25: Cooper Flagg #2 huddles with Sion James #14 and Tyrese Proctor #5 of the Duke Blue Devils during the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 25, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. | Photo by Lance King/Getty Images

As Duke sees the Wolfpack for the first time since DJ Burns took State on a magical ride last spring

Date 1/27 || Time 8:30 || Venue Cameron Indoor Stadium || Video ESPN

Last time we saw NC State, DJ Burns was dancing through the ACC and NCAA tournaments in a way that will long be remembered. It was so cool that even Kyle Filipowski admitted that he couldn’t hate Burns.

That State team is no more. Aside from Burns, Mohamed Diarra is gone, as is DJ Horne and Casey Morsell. Those are big hits but remember, until State caught fire in the ACC Tournament, that team was going nowhere.

State came into the tournament on a four-game losing streak and with a 17-14 record and up until the moment that Michael O’Connell hit a wild three to put the game against Virginia in overtime, State’s goose looked cooked.

This year’s team is also struggling and we’re not sure anyone sees a good ending for NC State this time around.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous.

Kevin Keatts has always built teams around strong, tall guards and a powerful perimeter defense. This year, he has four perimeter players he’s built his team around: Jayden Taylor (6-4 senior), O’Connell (6-2 senior), Marcus Hill (6-4 senior) and Dontrez Styles (6-6 senior).

You might detect a couple of patterns there - there are those strong, tall guards, other than O’Connell, and all four are seniors.

The big men are experienced too: Ben Middlebrooks (6-10/240 lb. senior) and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (6-10/240 lb. senior).

The rest of the rotation includes Breon Pass (6-0 senior), Dennis Parker (6-6 sophomore) and Trey Parker (6-1 freshman).

Louisville transfer Mike James is on the roster but hasn’t played yet due to injury. Paul McNeil was highly rated coming out of high school but hasn’t really clicked yet. However, he had his career high against SMU this weekend with eight points.

State has defended well - the Pack has the fifth best defense in the ACC - but the offense checks in at #15. State isn’t shooting three pointers very well either, with only Wake Forest lower than the #17 Wolfpack.

And Duke presents some particular challenges for the Wuffies here: Duke’s average height is right about where the 6-6 Styles stands. You probably know the specs here - Khaman Maluach is 7-2, Cooper Flagg is 6-9, Kon Knueppel is 6-6 as are Tyrese Proctor and Sion James, and Duke’s offense is more reliable than is State’s.

So they’re doomed, right?

Well, not necessarily.

Keatts has made a living with what you might call bully guards. Remember the disastrous trip to Raleigh in Jon Scheyer’s season when Duke fell behind 20-2?

Like this year, Keatts started four guards in that one, too. And Duke?

Duke started Dereck Lively, Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell, Jeremy Roach and Jaylen Blakes.

And got obliterated.

So don't be arrogant and assume it can’t happen again.

However, there are some other things to factor in.

First, this game is in Cameron and State has not done well in Cameron for some time.

Second, this team is unusual and not just for its height.

Cooper Flagg is the first reason. At 6-9, he is essentially a third point guard (Sion James, Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster are all capable point guards and Flagg is often the one who brings the ball up.

He’s also a solid penetrator, rebounder, defender and, well, he’s pretty much good at everything. He’s becoming one of the great X factors in ACC history.

Khaman Maluach is still evolving and as we saw at Wake Forest, a strong big man can give him problems. However, he is 7-2 and increasingly finding his groove. He’s a lot to deal with.

Then there’s Kon Knueppel, who is an excellent outside shooter but also one of the most hard-nosed players in the ACC. The guards give Duke an excellent defensive perimeter base and when you bring Foster, Mason Gillis and, increasingly, Patrick Ngongba off the bench, you’re not losing much.

And that doesn't event get into Isaiah Evans, which would be foolish. He’s about due for a big outburst and as we’ve seen, he can heat up in a hurry. He just seems due.

To sum it up, it’s not impossible for NC State to pull off a major upset, but a lot would have to go right for the Pack to do that.

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