Duke basketball: Predicting every win and loss this season
By Matt Giles
Game 12: Duke basketball versus Virginia Tech
The Duke Blue Devils will host the Virginia Tech Hokies, unranked to start the year, on Dec. 22 at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2) in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be the team’s first of the year in ACC play.
Fortunately for Mike Krzyzewski, he never again has to visit Blacksburg, where Duke has left with an L in four of its last five trips. No, the only scheduled meeting this time between the Blue Devils and Hokies is this one in the friendly confines of Cameron. Although there have been other close calls, Coach K has lost to Virginia Tech only once at home, a 69-67 defeat in 2006-07.
But entering his third season as the program’s head coach, Mike Young appears to have the Hokie ship heading in the right direction following their 15-7 campaign last season. That resulted in a final ranking at No. 25 in the AP Top 25 Poll and an NCAA Tournament bid.
They have a few key veterans back in town and a relatively strong freshman class. So another scare for Duke in Durham is undoubtedly possible.
Predicted final score: Duke 79, Virginia Tech 74
The Blue Devils improve to 11-1 overall (1-0 ACC) on the season.