Beats’ picks: Will No. 2 Duke go to Littlejohn Coliseum and defeat Clemson?

No. 2 Duke will look for its 17th straight win on the road against a Clemson team tied for second in the ACC. Our beats predict what will happen in the marquee matchup: 

Ranjan Jindal: Duke 73-70

I have been going back and forth on this pick all week because playing on the road in the ACC against such a veteran and well-coached team will be very difficult for Duke. I believe Tiger head coach Brad Brownell will have his roster ready after the loss against Georgia Tech. Player wise, I think Clemson needs center Viktor Lakhin to stay out of foul trouble, but someone to keep an eye on is Chauncey Wiggins, a 6-foot-10 40% 3-point shooter who can rise above anyone. I am watching two stats this game; Duke’s offensive rebounding percentage and Clemson’s 3-point percentage, because the Tigers struggle on the defensive glass but have shot the ball well all season (outside of the Tuesday night loss). The difference for me is Maliq Brown’s presence, and I think Duke’s defense can travel on the road. I see the Blue Devils getting out of Littlejohn Coliseum with a tight victory. 

Dom Fenoglio: Duke 75-71

This is a tricky one for the Blue Devils, who will play without a significant size advantage for the first time in ACC competition. Ian Schieffelin, Wiggins and Lakhin all stand at least 6-foot-8, creating an imposing trio with options against Cooper Flagg. However, Clemson does not have an abundance of help behind them in the frontcourt, so I see Flagg and Kon Knueppel attacking the basket to generate fouls. In the backcourt, the Tigers’ chances will come down to the performance of likely All-ACC guard Chase Hunter. While I can see him having a big day on offense, I have a hard time imagining him stopping Sion James or Tyrese Proctor. In the end, I expect Duke to wear Clemson down in a physical battle that ends just slightly in the visitors’ favor.

Sophie Levenson: Duke 72-69

Clemson is going to be the tallest hurdle Duke has faced in conference play all season. I can very well see a reenactment of last year’s tension-filled matchup, where the Tigers kept even with the Blue Devils and only lost on last-second foul call. On top of the fact that Clemson looks so good this year, the hosts have a chip on their shoulders. Two of the reasons they look so good: Schieffelin and Hunter leading the group in their senior and graduate years, respectively. If there’s any singular advantage that the Tigers have over Duke, it’s these two. Hunter and Schieffelin have been running Clemson basketball for years; short of Proctor, the Blue Devils don’t have that level of continuity.

Abby DiSalvo: Duke 73-68

In my eyes, this is the toughest game Duke has played in 2025. Clemson is a top-tier ACC team, and the Blue Devils have to travel to its gym for a primetime matchup. However, I see two major factors working to Duke’s advantage. The Tigers should be more fatigued emotionally and physically than the away unit after a triple-overtime letdown against Georgia Tech, while the Blue Devils cruised to a road win at Syracuse. Duke also sports a major size advantage and should be able to draw a sizable number of fouls, the exact issue that cost Clemson in the loss to the Yellow Jackets. Does head coach Jon Scheyer play more of the two-big lineups to try and exploit this? Hunter will likely have a big game as his stock continues to rise, but I don’t think it will be enough as the win streak expands to 17. 

Andrew Long: Duke 80-68

It feels wrong to pick Duke yet again — it’s an instinct from past years with worse Blue Devil teams and stronger ACC foes — but I can’t in good faith bet on anyone to beat them. The most encouraging sign from the midweek win at Syracuse is Duke’s ability to spread scoring across the rotation when Flagg isn’t hitting his shots, something I’d expect Brownell to try and replicate. With Brown in peak defensive form, Knueppel and Proctor improving their 3-point arms and Maluach cementing his spot as a lethal lob threat, this Blue Devil group has so many ways to score. I don’t foresee a sufficient Clemson game plan to stop it; I expect a tough outing at Littlejohn Coliseum, but one that never threatens to reach upset territory.

Rachael Kaplan: Clemson 77-74

Maybe I just have too much misplaced faith in the ACC that someone will be good enough to catch Duke on an off night and actually pull off the win, or maybe I think the Blue Devils’ undefeated conference record is a little too perfect to be true. This seems like the only game that might topple Goliath. Especially coming off that devastating triple-overtime loss, the Tigers will be on their A-game. Schieffelin, though only 6-foot-8, has been an incredibly efficient big man, ranking second in the ACC in rebounds. Hunter is as big a threat as anyone on the perimeter. He has had a subpar last two shooting games, going 4-for-15 from downtown, so he is bound to rebound. The Tigers are on their home turf, and have the talent and experience to upset Duke. 

Season records

Jindal: 7-0

Fenoglio: 7-0

Levenson: 5-2

Dudley: 5-2

DiSalvo: 5-2

Amare: 5-2

Long: 5-2

Kaplan: 4-3

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Rachael Kaplan
| Sports Managing Editor

Rachael Kaplan is a Trinity senior and a senior editor of The Chronicle’s 120th volume.

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Dom Fenoglio
| Sports Managing Editor

Dom Fenoglio is a Trinity junior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle’s 120th volume.

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Ranjan Jindal
| Sports Editor

Ranjan Jindal is a Trinity junior and sports editor of The Chronicle’s 120th volume.

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Sophie Levenson
| Sports Managing Editor

Sophie Levenson is a Trinity junior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle’s 120th volume.

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Rodrigo Amare

Rodrigo Amare is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle’s 120th volume.

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Abby DiSalvo

Abby DiSalvo is a Trinity sophomore and assistant Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle’s 120th volume.

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Andrew Long
| Recruitment/Social Chair

Andrew Long is a Trinity senior and recruitment/social chair of The Chronicle’s 120th volume. He was previously sports editor for Volume 119.