Beats’ picks: Will No. 11 Duke men’s basketball knock off Kansas, the top-ranked team in the country?

For the second time in as many video games, the Blue Devils are taking over a ranked opponent. The Chronicle’s beats are right here to share their predictions for No. 11 Duke’s matchup with No. 1 Kansas.

Ranjan Jindal: Kansas 71-69

Duke acquired a boatload of confidence from the Arizona win, and I’m positive that might be a key shifting ahead. The Blue Devils ought to maintain this shut and show that they will compete in opposition to the very best of the very best. Kansas has larger guards and wings that may rival Duke’s measurement, and I simply suppose that Invoice Self is aware of easy methods to win. This younger Blue Satan crew remains to be studying easy methods to end video games, so I believe the Jayhawks pull out a decent one ultimately. 

Dom Fenoglio: Kansas 67-62

Regardless of the Blue Devils’ sturdy displaying on the highway in opposition to Arizona, I’m nonetheless apprehensive about their offense in opposition to top-end opponents. I believe it’s little greater than a studying curve for a brand new unit, however Kansas advantages from expertise — particularly Hunter Dickinson. I fear that if Khaman Maluach will get into foul hassle early on, Dickinson can take management of the move of the sport. With that being stated, if Duke can knock down its pictures at the next clip than in opposition to the Wildcats (each from Arizona and Kentucky), it’s nicely positioned to topple No. 1.

Sophie Levenson: Duke 70-66

Duke’s defensive efficiency in opposition to Arizona has fueled me with much more confidence for these Blue Devils. Their first true highway sport of the season introduced out the very best of Cooper Flagg, proved that Kon Knueppel nonetheless has his 3-point contact and made clear the veteran significance of Tyrese Proctor, even when the junior scored simply eight factors. The Jayhawks have only one ranked victory within the books this season, a slim-margin win over North Carolina that stands as much less spectacular, from my view, than Duke’s defeat of Arizona. I don’t doubt that this sport will check the Blue Devils more durable than each Wildcat groups did, however I believe a pair weeks’ distinction would possibly simply be sufficient for Scheyer’s group.

Abby DiSalvo: Duke 72-68

The Blue Devils appeared to have grown up quick after their loss to Kentucky to open the season, following it up with a dominant defensive displaying in a highway top-25 matchup. One other large check looms in Las Vegas, and I believe the competition in opposition to the Jayhawks hinges on the play of Dickinson. Dickinson is nearly sure to get his fair proportion of buckets and boards, but when Maluach can simply comprise him barely, Duke ought to be capable to discover success. On the opposite finish of the ground, Maluach might be essential to spacing the ground for the Blue Devils, and I believe the already stable pick-and-roll sport between Maluach and Duke’s guards will result in an enormous victory. 

Andrew Lengthy: Kansas 71-68

Duke’s final two video games couldn’t have gone extra in a different way. Poor taking pictures and a late collapse in opposition to Kentucky in Atlanta made means for a lot higher taking pictures and a late pull-away in opposition to Arizona in Tucson.  Proctor stated after the (second, I assume) win in opposition to the Wildcats that the Kentucky loss helped his crew keep composed down the stretch, however with solely two video games of pattern I stay unconvinced which of those video games confirmed us the precise Duke. I definitely imagine the Blue Devils can cling with a Jayhawks crew I’ve discovered fairly unremarkable up to now, however the swings in efficiency from Scheyer’s group give me pause about its means to beat the nation’s No. 1-ranked crew. I additionally fear concerning the expertise of Dickinson, who might get Maluach into some early foul hassle.

Rachael Kaplan: Kansas 74-71

This one ought to reside as much as its all-star hype. The final sport Duke performed the place it confronted equal measurement within the paint was in opposition to Kentucky, when 6-foot-11 Andrew Carr and 7-foot Amari Williams mixed for 27 factors and 14 rebounds. Dickinson offers a problem the Blue Devils haven’t actually confronted but. Maluach has performed nicely so far, particularly with out the brace on his hand, however might want to rebound like there’s no tomorrow on each ends for Duke to have the benefit down low. In any other case, it must depend on its shooters, which is dangerous (re: Kentucky). I don’t suppose Maluach is sort of there but, and the No. 1 crew holds on. 

Ranjan Jindal
| Sports activities Editor

Ranjan Jindal is a Trinity junior and sports activities editor of The Chronicle’s one hundred and twentieth quantity.

Sophie Levenson
| Sports activities Managing Editor

Sophie Levenson is a Trinity junior and a sports activities managing editor of The Chronicle’s one hundred and twentieth quantity.

Rodrigo Amare

Rodrigo Amare is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle’s one hundred and twentieth quantity.

Abby DiSalvo

Abby DiSalvo is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle’s one hundred and twentieth quantity.

Andrew Lengthy
| Recruitment/Social Chair

Andrew Lengthy is a Trinity senior and recruitment/social chair of The Chronicle’s one hundred and twentieth quantity. He was beforehand sports activities editor for Quantity 119.