On paper, Duke’s matchup against Boston College looks like just another easy win for the third-ranked Blue Devils. Cooper Flagg and Co. are sitting at 15-2 with a perfect 7-0 record in the ACC, and Boston’s 9-8 with just a 1-5 conference record. Not exactly the most intimidating numbers for Duke. 

But have you ever wondered what makes Duke so powerful? Well, it’s majorly because the team is not relying on just one side of the ball. The Blue Devils are the only team ranked inside the top five for both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. We hope to see it in Saturday’s game at Conte Forum (8 p.m., ESPN). But first, let’s break it down.

Game day breakdown: Injury reports & starting lineup

As for the injury report, Duke’s defense just took a hit. Maliq Brown, one of their key defensive players, is sidelined for several weeks after spraining his knee during the first half of last Saturday’s win over Notre Dame. Brown won’t be suiting up for this one, either but they still have plenty of depth to work with. As for Boston, no injuries have been reported, so they’re coming into this game at full strength.

Starting Lineups
Here’s who will be hitting the court for both teams:

Duke’s Starting 5:

• Cooper Flagg (#2)
• Tyrese Proctor (#5)
• Kon Knueppel (#7)
• Khaman Maluach (#9)
• Sion James (#14)

Boston’s Starting 5:

• Dion Brown (#1)
• Joshua Beadle (#7)
• Donald Hand (#13)
• Elijah Strong (#31)
• Chad Venning (#32)

It’s worth noting that fans have their eyes set on Caleb Foster. This season, after starting the first seven games, he’s been coming off the bench for the last ten. It’s been a bit of a rough patch for him, especially after having back-to-back scoreless games, which is pretty rare for someone of his caliber.

But he bounced back big time with nine points, four assists, and three rebounds in just 18 minutes against Miami. This game might just be the perfect moment for him to shine, especially with a full arena that’s definitely going to be buzzing.

Cooper Flagg takes over as the sellout sensation

If you haven’t heard of Cooper Flagg yet, well, where have you been? When Duke plays at home, Cameron Indoor Stadium is always packed to the rafters, but now, even on the road, it’s like the Cooper Effect is in full force. 

The upcoming game against Boston College is practically a homecoming for the Maine native (just over a four-hour drive from Boston), which is making the game even more exciting. Fans are flocking to Conte Forum to see the freshman phenom in action, and the demand is insane. 

Ticket prices are soaring, with the cheapest seat going for $149 (and it’s tucked in the corner). In case, you want a prime seat at mid-court, That’ll cost you over $6,000. For comparison, Boston College’s other games this season have seen tickets going for as low as $4.

And well it all looks worth it if we take a look at Flagg’s monster performance in his first college year. He’s currently averaging 18.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. And to top it all off, he just set the ACC freshman record in Duke’s win over Notre Dame. 

However, while Flagg might be the headliner, also keep an eye on Boston College’s own star, Donald Hand Jr is. He’s one of the top scorers and rebounders in the ACC, and he’s been on a tear recently, scoring 20 or more points in three of his last six games, and nearly perfect from the free-throw line.

Hand missed the Duke game last season due to injury, but this year, he’ll be eager to make up for lost time. So, as much as the odds are stacked against them, can their sophomore turn things around for them? Or will Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils continue their march to ACC supremacy? Either way, it’s going to be one heck of a game.