Next Up - BC

Next up for Duke is a rematch with BC and after the taut game up there, you can't rule anything out.

However, BC is still a very young team and young teams frequently struggle on the road and in Cameron.

Duke Game Notes: vs. Boston College (Feb. 24, 2013) Sulaimon putting up winning numbers for Duke; BC hits town today Plumlee’s words about Duke heeded – thus far Boston College vs. Duke     At Duke, a Tent City for Fun and Profit

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And sure enough, BC has struggled on the road: they did manage to beat Virginia Tech 86-75, but then lost to Wake (by three), Maryland (by five), Virginia (by 14) and Miami (by 22).

There is a fairly short space between games - just two weeks - which seems inadequate. That's the luck of the draw, though.

The game in Chestnut Hill was a bit out of the norm because Duke had to travel and play on the same day, due to the blizzard, and that throws everything - meals, warmups, sleep - off. Winning like that was pretty cool actually.

For BC, there will be no such inconveniences unless rain gets on your nerves. 

As we learned last time, the Eagles are young but talented: Ryan Anderson is a load inside. Joe Rahan and Olivier Hanlan are talented guards you can build a future around. Lonnie Jackson is solid and Eddie Odio flashed some remarkable potential of which few around the ACC were aware. 

They have played the year with Dennis Clifford at less than 100% due to injury, and Steve Donahue calls him his best player, so you can figure they'd be better than 12-14 with him.

Duke has a lot of advantages in this game, starting with being at home. And unlike last time, they are rested and in a routine and for the most part healthy.

Seth Curry is playing the best basketball of the year and Mason Plumlee, likely frustrated by a couple of poor games, is due for an explosion.

We were also impressed with the recent play of Josh Hairston. He's moved back into the starting lineup and had perhaps his best game against Virginia Tech.

We're also on the verge of March, and as Alaa Abdelnaby once said, March tends to put an extra spring in Coach K's step. 

One final note: there is an increasing optimism around the program that Ryan Kelly is going to be back. It won't be for this game but it may not be that long either.