Wake Forest vs. Duke Prediction: ACC Showdown Preview Key Players to Watch Strengths and Weaknesses Prediction Tables
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-5, 4-2 ACC) vs. Duke Blue Devils (13-3, 4-2 ACC)
Game Information:
- Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2023
- Time: 7:00 PM EST
- Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC
- TV: ESPN2
- Radio: Wake Forest IMG Sports Network, Duke IMG Sports Network
Preview:
The ACC rivalry between Wake Forest and Duke is set to reignite on Wednesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Both teams enter the matchup with identical 4-2 conference records, making this a crucial battle for ACC standings.
Wake Forest:
- Damari Monsanto: The 6’8″ forward leads the Demon Deacons in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg)
- Daivien Williamson: The 6’1″ guard is averaging 13.2 points and 4.1 assists per game
- Cameron Hildreth: The 6’7″ forward is contributing 10.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game
Duke:
- Jeremy Roach: The 6’2″ point guard is the Blue Devils’ leading scorer (15.1 ppg) and assists leader (4.8 apg)
- Kyle Filipowski: The 7’0″ forward is averaging 13.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game
- Mark Mitchell: The 6’8″ forward is contributing 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game
Wake Forest:
Strengths:
- Strong inside presence with Monsanto and Hildreth
- Efficient shooting from three-point range (37.5%)
- Good free throw shooting (74.6%)
Weaknesses:
- Can be prone to turnovers (13.2 per game)
- Rebounding struggles, especially on the offensive end
- Lack of depth in the backcourt
Duke:
Strengths:
- Balanced scoring attack with multiple players contributing
- Elite defensive unit, allowing only 60.9 points per game
- Strong rebounding team, especially on the offensive end
Weaknesses:
- Struggles to shoot consistently from three-point range (33.3%)
- Can be vulnerable to teams with size and physicality
- Lack of a true point guard
This is a close matchup between two evenly matched teams. Wake Forest has the size and shooting advantage, while Duke relies on its defense and balanced scoring.
In the end, we believe that Duke’s home-court advantage and superior defense will be the difference. The Blue Devils will win a close game, 72-68.
Table 1: Player Statistics
| Player | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damari Monsanto (Wake Forest) | 17.5 | 7.7 | 1.8 |
| Daivien Williamson (Wake Forest) | 13.2 | 4.1 | 2.6 |
| Cameron Hildreth (Wake Forest) | 10.5 | 6.6 | 1.2 |
| Jeremy Roach (Duke) | 15.1 | 4.8 | 4.2 |
| Kyle Filipowski (Duke) | 13.8 | 9.8 | 3.1 |
| Mark Mitchell (Duke) | 10.4 | 5.8 | 2.4 |
Table 2: Team Statistics
| Team | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest | 78.5 | 35.2 | 12.8 | 44.7 | 37.5 | 74.6 |
| Duke | 60.9 | 37.5 | 12.3 | 43.0 | 33.3 | 71.1 |
Table 3: Head-to-Head Results
| Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Cameron Indoor Stadium | Duke 80, Wake Forest 64 |
| 2021 | Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Wake Forest 82, Duke 79 |
| 2020 | Cameron Indoor Stadium | Duke 78, Wake Forest 67 |
| 2019 | Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Wake Forest 75, Duke 65 |
| 2018 | Cameron Indoor Stadium | Duke 91, Wake Forest 69 |
Table 4: ACC Standings (top 6)
| Team | Record |
|---|---|
| Clemson | 13-3 (4-2) |
| Duke | 13-3 (4-2) |
| Wake Forest | 11-5 (4-2) |
| Virginia | 10-5 (3-3) |
| North Carolina | 10-6 (3-3) |
| Miami (FL) | 11-5 (3-3) |
