Tre Jones, Markell Johnson Matchup As Duke Heads To Raleigh For First Meeting Of The Regular Season With NC State

Duke who is ranked sixth in this weeks AP Top 25 poll will head to North Carolina’s state capital for the first matchup of the regular season with NC State who unlike Duke is unranked on Wednesday night with the rematch coming twelve days later in Durham.

This game will feature two point guards who lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists. Who are they? Duke’s Tre Jones who is first with 6.6 assists per game while NC State’s Markell Johnson is second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists with 6.5 assists per game. “according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/conferences/statistics/_/id/2/acc-conference

Duke comes into the game with a record of 22-3 while they’re 12-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and leading the way in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings while NC State comes into the game with a record of 16-9 and 7-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and fifth in the standings. “according to http://www.theacc.com/standings.aspx?standings=40

Last season Duke and NC State only faced each other once during the regular season. That matchup took place in Durham where Duke beat NC State.

- RJ Barrett had Duke's first triple-double in 13 years, finishing with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the second-ranked Blue Devils' 94-78 victory over North Carolina State on Saturday night. “ “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/16/211791050.aspx

Zion Williamson scored 32 points on 12-of-16 shooting and Tre Jones added 13 to help the Blue Devils (23-2, 11-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) win their ninth straight.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/16/211791050.aspx

Barrett became the fourth Duke player with a triple-double and the first since Shelden Williams in January 2006. He completed it in the final minute, hitting Williamson for a layup that put Duke up 90-74.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/16/211791050.aspx

Duke overcame 19 percent shooting from 3-point range by building a 44-26 rebounding advantage and scoring 22 points off N.C. State's 12 turnovers.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/16/211791050.aspx

Markell Johnson had 16 points and 10 assists, Torin Dorn scored 17 points and C.J. Bryce added 13 points for the Wolfpack (18-8, 6-7), who had their two-game winning streak snapped.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/2/16/211791050.aspx

As for Duke’s last trip to North Carolina’s state capital to face NC State, they came out on the losing end during the 2017-2018 season.

Omer Yurtseven had 16 points while Torin Dorn hit two huge 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes to help N.C. State upset the Blue Devils 96-85 on Saturday night, giving the Wolfpack's first-year coach his first league win. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2018/1/6/211691665.aspx

This time around Duke will be looking for a different result while NC State will look to continue their winning ways against their tobacco road rival who wears the darker shade of blue in North Carolina’s state capital.

As for Duke’s previous game,

They took care of Notre Dame in Durham and is now leading the Atlantic Coast Conference standings after Louisville’s at Clemson over the weekend.

. Vernon Carey Jr. scored 21 points, Tre Jones added 19 and No. 7 Duke used a high-intensity man-to-man defense to beat Notre Dame 94-60 Saturday for its seventh straight win.

Duke's relentless defensive pressure rattled an opponent that's usually steady on offense, leading to the lopsided score. Notre Dame entered the game averaging 9.75 turnovers per game, fewest in the nation, but turned the ball over nine times in the first half. The Irish (15-10, 6-8) had success when they were able to get the ball inside to Juwan Durham, whose 21 points marked a career high, and John Mooney, who scored 19. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/2/15/mens-basketball-no-7-duke-powers-past-irish-94-60.aspx

But just as often, the Blue Devils' defense pushed Notre Dame far from the basket, forced a turnover and was off to the races in transition. The Blue Devils outscored Notre Dame 13-0 on the fast break in the first half and 24-7 for the game.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/2/15/mens-basketball-no-7-duke-powers-past-irish-94-60.aspx

If a fast-break opportunity didn't present itself, the Blue Devils delivered the ball to Carey on the block, where neither Mooney nor Durham could stop him. Carey shot 8 of 10 from the field and took control of the game after the Blue Devils led just 20-19 with eight minutes to play in the first half.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/2/15/mens-basketball-no-7-duke-powers-past-irish-94-60.aspx

Carey made a left-handed hook shot, scored on a post-up, and sank a 3-pointer from in front of the Notre Dame bench as Duke scored nine straight points to stretch its lead to 29-19.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/2/15/mens-basketball-no-7-duke-powers-past-irish-94-60.aspx

Unlike Duke,

NC State lost their previous game as they lost at Boston College to closeout their three game road trip.

The NC State men's basketball team battled back from a 12-point deficit, but could not complete the comeback as it fell to Boston College, 71-68, Sunday night at the Conte Forum.

Bryce, Hellems and Devon Daniels all led the Pack with 15 points. Daniels added a game-high 10 rebounds. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/2/16/mens-basketball-pack-falls-short-at-bc.aspx

NC State finished the game just 2-of-19 from three-point and turned the ball over 16 times. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2020/2/16/mens-basketball-pack-falls-short-at-bc.aspx

Tip-off is set for 9:00pm from PNC Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN.