The Duke Blue Devils have been dominant this season, cruising through ACC play with a 20-3 record and locking up the No. 1 spot. A key factor in their success? Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, the frontrunner for NPOY. But with March Madness approaching, not everyone is sold on their ability to sustain this run. A national reporter recently raised concerns, adding to the doubts surrounding their momentum.

On Sunday night, just hours after Duke fell to Clemson (71-77) giving up their 16-win streak, Jeff Goodman sat down with Rob Dauster and Mike LaTulip on The Field of 68: After Dark podcast. The trio broke down how these results could shake up the Top 25 rankings and what it means for each team moving forward.

Jeff Goodman stated: “I think there’s a gap between Auburn and Duke for instance, but looking at Alabama’s resume which I did, and looking at Auburn’s resume, and part of it is obviously they’re in the SEC but part of it is, they both played really difficult non-conference schedules, that were better than Duke.”

Goodman is right, Auburn has faced a tough slate of opponents this season, taking on Iowa State, Duke, Purdue, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Florida. Their schedule also included matchups against then-Top 25 teams like North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Georgia. Meanwhile, Alabama has battled Purdue, Illinois, Houston, Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Mississippi State, along with wins over former Top 25 teams North Carolina, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

On the other hand, Duke’s biggest wins this season include a home victory over Auburn (78-84) at Cameron Indoor and road wins against Arizona (55-69) and Louisville (76-65). Outside of those matchups, they haven’t knocked off many teams that are locked for the NCAA Tournament, raising questions about how well they’re prepared for the challenges ahead.

This lack of marquee wins has fueled the debate over Duke’s true standing among the nation’s top teams, Goodman weighed in on the discussion, saying “I think it’s clear that to me it’s Auburn and Alabama, they should be one and two. I would probably still go with Auburn but I think it’s close. I’ll have them at one and two and I will have Duke at three.”

Goodman’s prediction was spot on, and the latest AP Poll reflected it perfectly. When the Week 15 rankings were released, Auburn (21-2) claimed the top spot, Alabama (20-3) followed at No. 2, and Duke landed in a tie with Florida for third.

The Duke will match up against the California Golden Bears for a key matchup on February 12 as pressure mounts surrounding March Madness, Cooper Flagg and Duke would want to win every match from here on out.

Freshman showdown as Duke looks to rebound

The California Golden Bears will face the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time this season. Cal, sitting at 12-12 overall and 5-8 in conference play, is chasing its first road win over a top-10 opponent since 2013. Their last victory against Duke came in the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Both teams will look to their standout freshmen—Cooper Flagg for Duke and Jeremiah Wilkinson for Cal—to lead the way.

Wilkinson has been a key player for Cal, averaging 13.8 points per game. He started the season as a bench player but quickly earned a starting role with consistent scoring. Over his last six games, he has scored at least 14 points in each, including a 30-point performance against Miami.

Their top scorer, sophomore forward Andrej Stojakovic, averages 17.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. While not the shooter his father was, he has still knocked down 27 threes this season. Senior guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. is their most reliable perimeter threat, hitting 45 threes at a 35.2% clip while adding 2.4 assists per game.

Cal ranks 123rd in KenPom, sitting at 91st in offensive efficiency and 203rd in defensive efficiency. Their best shot at an NCAA Tournament berth would be winning the ACC Tournament.

Meanwhile, Duke, ranked No. 2 in KenPom, boasts the nation’s 5th-best offense and 4th-best defense. Unlike Cal, they play at a more controlled tempo, ranking 284th in pace of play.

Junior guard Tyrese Proctor has been one of Duke’s top perimeter threats, hitting 53 threes while averaging 11.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. A three-year starter, he has scored at least 16 points in each of his last three games.

Freshman Kon Knueppel has been just as dangerous from deep, leading the team with 54 made threes at a 38.6% clip. The 6’7 wing is averaging 13.5 points per game and has emerged as a key perimeter scorer.

And then there’s Cooper Flagg. The projected No. 1 overall pick leads Duke in scoring (19.5 PPG), rebounds (7.7 RPG), and assists (4.0 APG), making him the centerpiece of the Blue Devils’ success.

Duke’s path to March Madness is anything but certain, and the pressure is building. With doubts looming, every game is a chance for Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils to make a statement and prove they belong among the nation’s elite. And what better way to start than with a home matchup against California?