One team out of six consecutive conference wins. Another, struggling with six straight losses. On paper, this matchup seems heavily tilted in Cooper Flagg’s Duke Blue Devils’ favor, but this sport has a way of throwing curveballs, as we have seen in the past. Until the final whistle blows, anything can happen.

Fresh off a record-breaking night, the Blue Devils (14-2, 6-0 ACC) will hit the court on Tuesday to take on the Miami Hurricanes (4-12, 0-5 ACC) in a late-night showdown at 9 p.m. While Duke aims to extend their double-digit winning streak, Miami is desperate to turn their fortunes around. So, before tip-off, let’s break down the injury report and projected starting lineups.

Cooper Flagg’s Duke vs Miami: Projected starting lineups & Injury updates

Duke’s forward Maliq Brown will be sidelined with a sprained knee for “an extended period of time,” according to head coach Jon Scheyer. “He’ll miss weeks,” the coach noted during the ACC coaches’ teleconference. This is a significant blow, as Brown has been a key rotational piece.

The Hurricanes are equally (or more) plagued by injuries. Nijel Pack remains out indefinitely with a foot injury and hasn’t seen action in over a month. Freshman Divine Ugochukwu, who replaced Pack in the lineup, is also “doubtful” with a left hip issue sustained during the FSU game. 

Projected starting lineups

Duke:

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

Miami:

• Brandon Johnson (#2)
• Lynn Kidd (#1)
• Austin Swartz (#23)
• Jalil Bethea (#3)
• Matthew Cleveland (#0)

Miami’s Jalil Bethea will be a key player to watch. After a 15-point performance against Virginia Tech, Bethea needs to rediscover his rhythm if the Hurricanes hope to make this a competitive game.

Who will fill in for Maliq Brown?

With Maliq Brown out, the attention shifts to Duke’s 7-foot-2 center, Khaman Maluach. Maluach is coming off an amazing game against Notre Dame, where he recorded a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes—his second double-double of the season. 

While Cooper Flagg’s record-breaking 42 points stole the headlines, Maluach’s performance showed his growth as a two-way player. “His lateral mobility has improved so much,” Scheyer praised.

Behind Maluach, freshman Patrick Ngongba is expected to step up. Though he had a limited impact against Notre Dame (two points and one rebound), the head coach expressed confidence in his potential. “I have a ton of confidence in Pat,” he said. “He’s been coming on really strong.” Then there’s Mason Gillis. While not a traditional big man, Gillis’ versatility could be an asset to Duke’s rotation. “Mason needs to be ready,” Scheyer emphasized, hinting at a possible “small-ball” lineup to adapt to Brown’s absence.

Meanwhile, Flagg also has the skill set to fill in at center, but Scheyer seems hesitant to disrupt Flagg’s current role. “I don’t want to screw anything up with him,” he admitted. “His versatility is key, but I’d rather he focus on what he’s doing now.” 

So, with Miami already struggling defensively (ranked 308th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.com) and dealing with injuries, the odds seem to favor the Blue Devils. But we never know. Can Miami’s Bethea step up big for the team? Or will Cooper Flagg & Co. continue to stay unbeatable in conference plays?