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No. 1 Duke returns home to face Stephen F. Austin after 2K Empire Classic

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 22: Wendell Moore Jr. #0 and Cassius Stanley #2 of the Duke Blue Devils talk during the second half of their game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Madison Square Garden on November 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 22: Wendell Moore Jr. #0 and Cassius Stanley #2 of the Duke Blue Devils talk during the second half of their game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Madison Square Garden on November 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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After a 2K empire Classic Championship, the Duke Basketball team returns home to face the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.

The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils are back in Cameron Indoor Stadium after winning the 2K Empire Classic Championship to face the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, a team that has a winning culture and history.

Stephen F. Austin is coming off its first loss of the season to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Blue Devils must find a way to control guard Kevon Harris who leads the team in scoring.

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Duke also must value the basketball as the Lumberjacks average 11.0 steals per game.

Several Blue Devils performed well over the weekend against California and Georgetown, but none were better than Vernon Carey Jr. who was named as the MVP of the 2K Empire Classic and named as the ACC Freshman and Co-Player of the Week.

Wendell Moore also bursted onto the scene in the second half in the win over Georgetown in what could be the best half that the freshman has played as a Duke Blue Devil.

Carey Jr. and Moore are only two of many players who thrived for Duke in New York, but one player that Mike Krzyzewski has to get going in Matthew Hurt.

Hurt struggled tremendously over the weekend and has shown flashes, but hasn’t truly put a complete game together yet.

While Stephen F. Austin in a lesser opponent, if Matthew Hurt can get going against the Lumberjacks it will be a positive sign as Duke has a brutal stretch next week with road games against Michigan State and Virginia Tech.

A strong and aggressive first half should be what it takes for Duke to put away Stephen F. Austin but that is exactly what the Blue Devils were lacking in its two games in Madison Square Garden.

Duke clearly has things to work on and starting fast and burying teams early should definitely be a focus.

No. 1 Duke and Stephen F. Austin will tipoff at 9:00pm EST from Cameron Indoor Stadium and the game will be broadcasted on the ACC Network Extra and various Regional Sports Networks.

PREDICTION: Duke 88, Stephen F. Austin 65

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