ACC Showdown: No. 6 Duke Travels to Take on No. 20 Louisville…Read More….
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, will host a marquee ACC matchup as the No. 6 Duke Blue Devils (13-1, 2-0 ACC) visit the No. 20 Louisville Cardinals (11-3, 1-1 ACC). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, marking a rematch of last season’s ACC Tournament championship, which Duke claimed 73-62.
Duke comes in riding a thrilling 91-87 road win over Florida State on January 3. Sophomore wing Isaiah Evans turned in a career night with 28 points, including six three-pointers, while freshman sensation Cameron Boozer added 17 points and nine assists. Boozer, the son of former Duke standout Carlos Boozer, has been the engine of the Blue Devils this season, averaging 23.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. His twin brother, Cayden, anchors the backcourt, and sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II contributes inside with 11.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Under head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke boasts a top-tier defense, allowing just 65.5 points per game, ranking 22nd nationally, while shooting 49.8% from the field. Still, recent contests have revealed cracks, as opponents shot over 50% in tight wins against Georgia Tech and Florida State. Historically, Duke has dominated Louisville, winning the last seven meetings, including three straight at the Yum! Center.
Louisville, led by second-year coach Pat Kelsey, is unbeaten at home (8-0) but fell 80-76 at Stanford in its last outing, ending a strong early conference run. The Cardinals are among the nation’s most prolific offenses, averaging 90.4 points per game (18th nationally) and ranking fourth in three-pointers made, with 12.2 per contest. Senior guard Ryan Conwell leads the team with 19.6 points and 3.7 three-pointers per game, while Isaac McKneely adds 11.6 points.
However, Louisville is without freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr., a projected 2026 NBA lottery pick, who had been averaging 16.6 points and 5.1 assists before a lower-back injury sidelined him for four games. His absence has affected the team’s offensive flow. Veteran J’Vonne Hadley provides leadership, but foul trouble has limited his impact in recent outings.
This matchup sets Duke’s disciplined defense against Louisville’s high-octane perimeter attack. The Cardinals attempt the fifth-most three-pointers nationally and get more than 40% of their points from deep. Duke ranks among the top 50 in limiting opponent three-point shooting (28.9%), and Scheyer may rely on zone defenses, which worked well against Florida State and Georgia Tech.
Oddsmakers have Duke as a slim 1.5-point favorite, with an over/under around 162, signaling expectations for a fast-paced, high-scoring affair. Analysts are divided—some trust Louisville’s home advantage, while others lean on Duke’s talent and historical dominance (17-9 all-time, 10-3 in the last 13 matchups).
Expect a hard-fought, back-and-forth game. If Boozer controls the paint and Evans stays hot from deep, Duke could pull away. But Louisville’s crowd and three-point firepower could make this a close, thrilling contest. With early-season ACC standings and March tournament positioning on the line, this one is a must-watch.
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