Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech is set for an exciting showdown as the Blue Devils open postseason play in the 2025 ACC Tournament. The top-seeded Duke Blue Devils (28-3) take on No. 8 seed Georgia Tech (17-15) on Thursday at noon ET (ESPN) at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
The Blue Devils enter the tournament as the No. 1 team in the nation after clinching their first outright ACC regular-season championship under third-year head coach Jon Scheyer. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets earned their way to this matchup with a 66-60 victory over No. 9 seed Virginia in the opening round.
Duke has already faced Georgia Tech once this season, securing a dominant 82-56 victory in Atlanta back in December. However, with the stakes higher in the ACC Tournament, the Yellow Jackets will look to pull off an upset in this Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech battle.
Duke Aiming for Another ACC Tournament Title
This year marks the 72nd edition of the ACC Tournament, and Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech adds another chapter to their postseason history. The Blue Devils are chasing their 23rd ACC Tournament title, with a chance to celebrate another net-cutting ceremony in Charlotte.
Duke won the ACC Tournament the last time it was played at Spectrum Center in 2019 and also secured the 2023 championship in Greensboro during Scheyer’s debut season as head coach.
Historically, Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament has favored the Blue Devils, who hold a 7-3 record in postseason meetings. However, the two programs haven’t clashed in the tournament since their last title-game showdown in 2010.
Cooper Flagg’s ACC Tournament Debut
Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg is set to make his ACC Tournament debut in Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech, bringing plenty of excitement to the court.
Flagg, the ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, has been a dominant force this season. He leads Duke in every major statistical category, averaging:
- 19.4 points
- 7.6 rebounds
- 4.2 assists
- 1.5 steals
- 1.3 blocks per game
Flagg had a quiet performance in Duke’s earlier matchup with Georgia Tech, scoring 13 points with four rebounds and two assists. This time around, the future No. 1 NBA Draft pick will look to make a bigger impact and potentially add ACC Tournament MVP to his resume.
Key Matchup: Khaman Maluach vs Georgia Tech’s Frontcourt
A crucial battle to watch in Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech will be in the paint.
Duke freshman Khaman Maluach, the 7-foot-2 center, contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds in the first game against the Yellow Jackets. However, Maluach has struggled offensively in recent games, averaging just six points in Duke’s last two contests.
He’ll be up against Georgia Tech’s frontcourt duo of Baye Ndongo and Duncan Powell, who combined for 37 points and 13 rebounds in their ACC Tournament opener. Both Ndongo and Powell reached double figures when they played Duke earlier this season, so the Blue Devils will need a strong defensive effort inside.
If Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech turns into a physical battle in the paint, Maluach’s size and rebounding ability could be a deciding factor.
Turnovers Could Be a Factor for Duke
One area of concern heading into Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech is turnovers.
The Blue Devils have struggled with ball security recently, committing double-digit turnovers in three of their last four games. Their 14 turnovers against UNC were the most since a 16-turnover game at Wake Forest in January.
Earlier in the season, Duke had been one of the best teams in the country at limiting turnovers, recording double-digit giveaways just once in seven games. But this recent trend is something they’ll need to clean up heading into the ACC Tournament.
Georgia Tech will look to take advantage of these turnover issues, applying defensive pressure and trying to force Duke into fast-break mistakes. If the Blue Devils can take care of the ball, they should have no trouble controlling the pace of the game.
Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech Score Prediction
With the No. 1 ranking and a potential NCAA Tournament top seed on the line, expect the Blue Devils to come out with intensity.
Final Score Prediction:
🏀 Duke 85, Georgia Tech 62
The Blue Devils are playing some of their best basketball of the season and will look to make a statement in their ACC Tournament opener. While Georgia Tech has been competitive, Duke’s talent, depth, and experience should lead to a comfortable win.
This Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech matchup could serve as a launching pad for the Blue Devils as they look to make a deep March Madness run. If Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and the rest of Duke’s stars step up, they’ll have a great chance to cut down the nets in Charlotte once again.
Final Thoughts on Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech
With Selection Sunday approaching, the ACC Tournament is a crucial moment for both teams. Duke Basketball vs Georgia Tech offers the Blue Devils a chance to cement their dominance while the Yellow Jackets aim to pull off a massive upset.
Will Duke cruise to another ACC Tournament title? Or can Georgia Tech shock the college basketball world? We’ll find out soon when these two teams hit the court!