WBB Hokies at Duke Jan 26 at 8 PM

The #12 Hokies travel to #16 Duke to play a big game at 8 PM tonight. The game will be on the ACC Network. Duke is favored by 5.5; the over/under for the game is 121.

Duke has #30 Kennedy Brown, 6'6" Jr to match up against Kitley and #21 Shayeann Day-Wilson 5'6" Sophomore to match up against Amoore. Brown averages 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game; Day-Wilson averages 8.8 points and 2.7 assists in 23.3 minutes per game. Kitley averages 18.7 points and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes; Amoore averages 14.5 points and 5.5 assists in 36.5 minutes. #4 Elizabeth Balogun 6'1" senior leads Duke in rebounding with 5.7 in 22.5 minutes per game; she also adds 10.7 ppg. Duke's leading scorer is #0 Celeste Taylor 5'11" senior who averages 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.9 minutes. The Hokies counter with Kayana Traylor 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 30.1 minutes and Taylor Soule with 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 27.7 minutes. Duke's other regular starter is #24 Regan Richardson 5'11" sophomore averages 6.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18.3 minutes. The Hokies have Cayla King averaging 8.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 30.3 minutes.

Duke is 17-2 on the season and 7-1 in the ACC. Their 2 losses are to #5 Connecticut and #15 UNC. They beat #20 NC State. Duke beat Clemson and we lost to Clemson.

Duke scores 68.7 ppg game while allowing 51. The Hokies score 74.9 while allowing 57.1. Duke has two scorers averaging double digits per game; the Hokies have four. Duke shoots 33.3% from three and allows 26.5%; the Hokies shoot 33.3% and allow 27.2%.

This is going to be one heck of a game. Playing at Cameron Indoor gives Duke a big advantage. Duke has a longer bench regularly playing 10 players 12+ minutes per game. There are 11 players who average that many minutes but Lee Volker, who started 6 games, is no longer on the team. The Hokies regularly play 7 players; but Taylor Geiman has been playing more lately. The team that plays the best defense will probably win this game. If Duke can stop(silly me, nobody can stop) Kitley, the perimeter shooters will have to step up. Two sides of the same coin; the Hokies will need to hit threes to make room for Kitley and she will need to score inside to open up the three point line for the shooters.

Brown averages 2.4 fouls per game. Foul trouble for her could be a big factor in this game. But I would not want to count on the refs calling a tight game against Duke in Cameron Indoor.

Crazy prediction: King gets hot from three and Duke can't deal with all the threats the Hokies throw at them. Scary concern: Duke has five players that shoot well from beyond the arc; we give up too many easy threes and lose the game.

LET'S GO HOKIES!