NCAA Men’s Basketball: Duke Blue Devils vs Illinois Fighting Illini- Possible Lineups and Predictions

NCAA Men’s Basketball action will continue when two top-ten ranked teams in the country face off in a marquee Tuesday matchup. The Duke University Blue Devils head into a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini. Duke is currently ranked tenth in the country, falling after losing their last game. However, Illinois is ranked six in the country and currently has a  3-1 record. Duke is 2-1.

The 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge couldn’t ask for a better game. Both the teams are hungry to continue on the winning track to certify their credentials as genuine contenders this season. Illinois’s only loss of the season came to number two-ranked Baylor Bears. Even Duke’s only loss was to a ranked team in the Michigan State Spartans.

But what will happen heading into this clash? Can the Blue Devils avoid falling to .500 on the season? Or will they triumph over the higher-ranked Illini?

NCAA Men’s Basketball: The Illini squash the Blue Devils?

The Blue Devils have a very versatile roster this year. They have been scoring at well (45.6% field goal percentage, 35.5% from three). Nearly 42% of their field goal attempts come from 3-point range. Along with this, Duke also is efficient at hustle defensive plays like steals and blocks. They have the kind of roster that on their day is unstoppable.

The Illini are led by guard Ayo Dosunmu, who is averaging almost 24 points. He will be joined on the court with Adam Miller, Da’Monte Williams, Trent Frazier, and Kofi Cockburn. Duke will line up with Matthew Hurt, Jalen Johnson, Wendell Moore Jr., Jordan Goldwire, and Mark Williams.

For our prediction, we are going with the Illini. While Duke is a strong team, their inexperience will plague them. The Blue Devils have players that can seemingly rise to the moment. However, it is a shot in the dark because of the general inconsistency that lineups with freshmen have.