Wake Forest’s Bobi Klintman and Duke’s Tyrese Proctor lunge for a loose ball during the first half of a men’s basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Durham
The power of revenge faces off with the power of human nature within the Duke Blue Devils this week.
On Tuesday night, the Blue Devils play Wake Forest at Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7 p.m.
Last month, Wake Forest topped Duke, 81-70, at Winston-Salem to hand the Blue Devils their first ACC loss. So, answering that with a strong performance in the rematch is certainly on the Blue Devils’ minds.
On the other hand, the first game of the season with intense rival North Carolina looms next on the schedule. Given UNC’s two historic wins last season — in Mike Krzyzewski’s final game coaching Duke at Cameron on March 4, and in the Final Four at New Orleans on April 2 — there’s plenty of fire on the Duke side.
But the Blue Devils’ players and coaches have to keep that bottled up so they can focus on Wake Forest.
“For us, it’s all about Wake Forest,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “And they beat us. They’re a heck of a team. This is a really important game and that’s where my head is at.”
The Demon Deacons (14-8, 6-5 ACC) will arrive at Cameron riding a three-game losing streak, including Saturday’s 79-77 home loss to N.C. State.
In beating Duke last month, the Demon Deacons shredded Duke’s defense like few teams have. Wake shot 52.2% in the second half had five players score in double figures.
The game’s location makes it tougher for Wake Forest this time. Duke is 10-0 in games this season at Cameron Indoor Stadium and has won 23 consecutive home games over the Demon Deacons.
Tipoff time + TV channel for Tuesday’s game
The game will start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and air on ESPN, which is available on major cable and satellite services such as Spectrum, Dish Network and DirecTV.
How to stream Duke vs. Wake Forest game online
Are you a cord-cutter?
If your preferred method of watching games involves streaming, there are options for that, too.
ESPN is available on Sling, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTubeTV streaming services. Or click here to view on the ESPN app.
Game day details: Duke vs. Wake Forest
Teams: Duke Blue Devils vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 31
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Odds: Duke opened as an 8.5-point favorite Monday with the the over-under total at 147 points.
Series history: Duke and Wake Forest will meet for the 259th time in a series that dates back to the 1905-06 season. The Blue Devils hold a 178-80 overall series lead. Wake Forest won, 81-70, over Duke on Dec. 20 at Winston-Salem. Duke leads the series, 65-16, in games played at Cameron Indoor Stadium and has won 23 consecutive home games over Wake.
Pregame reading
Steve Wiseman has covered Duke athletics since 2010 for the Durham Herald-Sun and Raleigh News & Observer. He placed second in both beat writing and breaking news in the 2019 Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. Previously, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989.