Duke basketball: Predicting every win and loss this season
By Matt Giles
Game 22: Duke basketball at Louisville
The Duke Blue Devils will play at the Louisville Cardinals, unranked to start the year, on Jan. 29 at noon ET (ESPN2) in the KFC Yum! Center.
Louisville returns several promising players from last season, notably three chiseled, aggressive forwards in Jae’Lyn Withers, Samuell Williamson, and Malik Williams. Yes, they could hold their own against Duke’s frontcourt and conceivably force Paolo Banchero and Mark Williams into early foul trouble.
Plus, against the Blue Devils, the Cardinals should have revenge on their minds.
After all, their loss to Duke in the 2021 ACC Tournament, where Mark Williams came out of his shell with 23 points and 19 rebounds for the Blue Devils, might’ve cost them a trip to the Big Dance. Also worth noting, although Louisville has since beaten a visiting Duke basketball team, the 2018-19 Blue Devils’ epic comeback win in the KFC Yum! Center may warrant repeated revenge.
Predicted final score: Louisville 91, Duke 84
The Blue Devils fall to 18-4 overall (8-3 ACC) on the season.