Duke undeniably plays one of the best basketball brands this season and is the front-runner to win the NCAA tournament. However, before that, Cooper Flagg and his team will make a detour to MSG to face the Illinois Fighting Illini. Said to be a breathtaking matchup, there is speculation about a major liability for Duke despite their impressive form.

The Blue Devils rank No. 1 in the ACC, heading into MSG with an astonishing 23-3 overall record while being 15-1 in conference play. At the center of their core is Cooper Flagg, who has been averaging 19.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a freshman, everything seems to be going great for Duke so what could be the liability?

On a recent episode of A Friday Hang with Jon Rothstein, he noted, “There is one player right now on Duke, Tyrese Proctor, who was a part of the game last year when Duke lost to NC State in the Elite Eight. Mason Gillis, a grad transfer from Purdue, and Proctor are the only players on this team who have NCAA tournament experience.”

No one apart from these two players has ever been to the NCAA tournament, which raises a red flag in everyone’s mind. The regular season is a different challenge, but when it’s March Madness, you only get one shot at glory—otherwise, you’re out. With an inexperienced squad, anything can happen in high-pressure situations against seasoned tournament teams.

However to counter that HC Jon Scheyer has rather made a smart choice playing a game against the Illini which even Jon agreed to, “This to me might be the, best barometer we have for the Blue Devils before the NCAA tournament” Jon mentioned, “because even though Illinois is not played great basketball Illinois’s roster top to bottom the most talented roster in the Big 10.”

Illinois hasn’t been up to the mark this season due to lingering injuries, including Morez Johnson. However, despite that, the team remains strong, with key players stepping up in their roles. They are led by their leading scorer, Kasparas Jakucionis, who is averaging 15.6 points per game, while sophomore Tomislav Ivisic is contributing with 8.8 rebounds per game. The Illini currently rank No. 7 in the Big Ten with a 17-10 overall record. Even with two consecutive losses behind them, they will look to pose a threat to the Blue Devils in front of huge crowd.

Duke’s Dominance at MSG

Saturday will be a big day as No. 3 Duke takes on Illinois. Adding to the excitement, Cooper Flagg will make his debut at MSG. Overall, the Blue Devils will be playing at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” for the 60th time. So, how does their record stand at MSG?

The Blue Devils have a strong record at Madison Square Garden, winning 41 of their 59 games there—the sixth-most victories at any venue in program history. Their first win at the Garden came during 1999 where they played a non-conference game against St. Johns, before dropping two game’s and finally getting back to winning ways in the 2000s a Preseason NIT Classic against Texas.

With their victory over No. 10 Baylor in the SentinelOne Classic last year, the Blue Devils secured their seventh consecutive win at Madison Square Garden and their eighth in the last nine games at the iconic venue.

While Duke’s lack of postseason experience raises concerns, their talent and form make them a formidable contender. As the Blue Devils step onto the court at the MSG once again, all eyes will be on how Cooper Flagg and other players handle the pressure—setting the stage for what’s to come in March Madness.