Army Black Knights vs. Duke Blue Devils Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 8th 2024

Preview and Prediction

While the seventh-ranked Duke team put on an impressive performance in their first game, the Blue Devils are determined to address various aspects of their play as they prepare for a challenging stretch of games.

Their next opportunity to fine-tune their game will come against Army, who will be visiting Durham, North Carolina for their second game of the season on Friday evening.

"I think we can expect to face some challenges in the games ahead, so we need to work on ironing out any issues we have," said Duke freshman Kon Knueppel.

Duke's 96-62 victory over Maine in their season opener allowed them to address some first-time topics, such as the collegiate debuts of freshmen Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and Knueppel, as well as the introduction of transfers Mason Gillis, Sion James, and Maliq Brown.

"It was a good start," said Duke coach Jon Scheyer. "There are definitely things we need to improve on, but I was pleased with the effort."

The first game drew a lot of attention to Flagg, who was the top recruit in the nation among this year's freshmen class. However, Flagg's contributions won't be limited to scoring, as the 6-foot-9 guard/forward also had seven rebounds and five assists in the first game.

"I'm just trying to make an impact in different ways, whether it's making the right play, finding an open teammate, or rebounding," said Flagg. "Our team takes pride in things we can control, like rebounding, playing good defense, and bringing energy to the game."

Flagg has been critical of his own performances so far, and the Blue Devils are determined to iron out any issues as they prepare for tough matchups against No. 23 Kentucky, No. 10 Arizona, and No. 1 Kansas later this month.

"I still have a lot to improve on," admitted Flagg. "I've been sloppy with the ball in my hands in our first three games, including our two exhibition games. The key to basketball is making the right play."

Knueppel, another freshman for Duke, is also expected to make a significant impact this season as scouts come to evaluate Flagg and other players on the team.

"He's a versatile player," said Scheyer of Knueppel. "His scoring was great, but I was also impressed with his defense. He's a great passer and he gives his all on every possession."

Army's first game of the season was a 67-59 victory over Albany, with Josh Scovens leading the team with 22 points.

"It was a great win for our team," said Army coach Kevin Kuwik. "We took some hits, but we stayed in the game and kept fighting."

The game against Duke will be a special one for Scovens, who played high school basketball at Greensboro Page, just an hour away from Duke's campus.

Duke's games against Army have always held a special significance because their former coach, Mike Krzyzewski, was a former Army player and coach. However, this year's matchup may have a different feel as the Hall of Fame coach will not be on the Blue Devils' bench.

This will be the first meeting between the Black Knights and Blue Devils since November 2021, when Duke came out on top with a score of 82-56.

PREDICTION

Army Black Knights

Duke Blue Devils