Fresh off a Maui Invitational Championship - with two top five wins on its résumé already - here's what some of our sports staff has to say about the matchup between No. 2 Auburn and No. 9 Duke on Wednesday, complete with score predictions and analysis.
Patrick Bingham, Sports Editor: Duke 81-75
"I think it's going to be awfully hard for No. 2 Auburn to pull one out inside of what is expected to be a rocking Cameron Indoor Stadium. In a matchup that features, KenPom's best offense in the Tigers against the nation's best defense in the Blue Devils I'll go with the home team and its defense along with the "Cameron Crazies" in close win."
Grace Heim, Assistant Sports Editor: Auburn 75-70
"This is a hard one, but with how the Tigers have looked early this season, I can’t help but take them. Duke has struggled to finish in close games this season falling in close contents to Kentucky and Kansas while Auburn has managed some comebacks against tough opponents. The environment may be on the Blue Devils’ side, but I expect the Tigers’ early season momentum to propel them to victory."
Logan Fowler, Sports Reporter: Duke 76-69
"Auburn is arguably the hottest team in college basketball right now after picking up its second top-five win of the season over Iowa State in Maui, while also knocking off No. 12 North Carolina and a red-hot Memphis squad. Johni Broome has made a strong case for the Naismith Award with his play in Auburn's first seven games, helping the Tigers secure the No. 1 spot in offensive efficiency , according to KenPom. However, Duke, which ranks No. 1 in defensive efficiency, poses Auburn's greatest challenge so far in that area with freshman phenom Cooper Flagg leading the charge.
"While I believe Auburn can beat anybody in the country on any given night, this is the Tigers' first true road test against a top-10 team in a historic venue like Cameron Indoor Stadium. Because of that, I believe Auburn will suffer its first loss of the season in a close one."
Charles Diegnan, Sports Writer: Auburn 72-70
"Auburn is off to their best start in program history with three top-15 wins as well as two top-5 wins in their first seven games to start the season. While Auburn has been able to stifle teams like No. 4 Houston, No. 5 Iowa State, and No. 12 North Carolina, the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils may be the ultimate test to prove who this Auburn team truly is. The Tigers haven't faced a player as dynamic as the 17-year-old star Cooper Flagg or a shooter as developed as true freshman Kon Knueppel and I expect Duke Coach Jon Scheyer to run his offense mainly through the two players. This matchup is going to be shootout that comes down to the wire, with one of Miles Kelly or Denver Jones hitting the icing free throws to propel Auburn to victory in Durham on Wednesday evening."
Gunner Norene, Sports Writer: Auburn 79-74
"Auburn is looking to build off a sensational start to the season on Wednesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, most recently winning the Maui Invitational via wins over No. 5 Iowa State, No.12 North Carolina and Memphis. The victory over the Cyclones marked the Tigers' second win over an AP Top 5 opponent in just their first couple of weeks of play, largely contributing to Auburn's No. 1 ranking in KenPom. Bruce Pearl's squad also sits at first in the nation in offensive efficiency, as eight Tigers play 15.7 minutes or more and average 86.7 points as a team per game.
Senior big man Johni Broome has been absolutely dominant through Auburn's first seven games, tallying 20.7 PPG, 12.9 RPG (1st in D1), and 3.1 BPG (4th in D1). However, Broome will have a tall task against the Blue Devils' freshman phenom Cooper Flagg. The 17-year-old former McDonald's All-American, projected to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is an elite playmaker on both ends of the court and occasionally plays at the guard spot, showcasing his ability to score at all levels. Flagg is accompanied with another young talent in Kon Knueppel, who's averaging 13.4 PPG and projected to be picked sixth in the NBA Draft. Auburn will obviously need to get Broome going early and receive some help from three-point shooters like Miles Kelly, Chad Baker-Mazara, and Denver Jones to compliment the Tigers' strong front court presence. I think Duke gets off to a hot start, but Auburn finds a way to stay in the game and claws its way back -- like we've seen against Houston and Iowa State -- to win a thriller. "
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