Duke Faces St. John’s in Non-Conference Showdown
This Saturday, Cameron Indoor will play host to a grudge match for the Blue Devils as they look to avenge last season’s embarrassing loss against the Red Storm. Unfortunately for St. John’s, leaving Durham with a victory can be one of the toughest tasks in all of college basketball.
Who: St. John’s at No. 2 Duke
When: 12 PM ET
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium- Durham, NC
Watch: ESPN
SJU: St. John’s started off the 2018-2019 campaign with a bang, winning their first 12 games. However, this came to a halt at the hands of Seton Hall on December 29. The team now sits at 16-5, with a sub-par Big East record of 4-5. The Red Storm may not be as they once were, but a matchup against Duke can always provide an extra boost of motivation to pull off an upset. Exceptional play by point guard Shamorie Ponds will be crucial to the Red Storm’s chances of going into Cameron and stealing a win. Ponds is averaging 20.6 PPG and is one of the conference’s star players. He will have to play the game of his life on Saturday in hopes of picking up a win.
DUKE: Duke enters this one as a heavy favorite of 17.5 points. However, this will be nothing for the Blue Devils to brush over, as they have struggled with slow starts this season. This was especially noticeable last Saturday as they trailed an average Georgia Tech team at the half. Although the Devs secured a 13 point win, this got people talking. An upset-minded Red Storm team will be no pushover. R.J. Barrett needs to be efficient and take smart shots if Duke wants to win comfortably. Barrett is extremely talented, but he has a tendency to throw up shots that leave fans scratching their heads. Tre Jones running the offense and being Duke’s stud defender will also play a significant role in the outcome. Zion Williamson’s presence on the boards will be vital to the Blue Devils in this tough noontime start.
The Verdict:
Duke def. St. John’s 73-61
I think that Duke will get off to another slow start, and struggle a bit, but be able to ultimately pull off a gritty win. Look for the Red Storm to give the Devs trouble, as this one may be closer than we think.
Image:
Brian Spurlock- USA TODAY Sports (cover photo)