Gameday Preview: #2 Duke vs Florida State – Sat March 1st 2025

Durham, NC: The Duke Blue Devils (25-3, 16-1 ACC) welcome the Florida State Seminoles (16-12, 7-10 ACC) to Cameron Indoor Stadium in the penultimate game of the Cooper Flagg show in Durham. This is also legendary coach, and North Carolina native, Leonard Hamilton’s last game against the Blue Devils as he announced his retirement earlier this season. Hamilton is the third tenured ACC coach to call it quits this year following UVA’s Tony Bennet a few weeks before the season began and Miami’s Jim Laranaga shortly after Christmas. 

The Blue Devils are coming off a beat down of the Miami Hurricanes on Tuesday evening. Junior guard Tyrese Proctor went down in the last minute of the first half with a bone bruise on his knee and did not return. He will also be held out of today’s matchup against the Seminoles. Freshman Isiah Evans took over the reins from the injured proctor playing 26 minutes and scoring 16 points on a 5-8 night from three. Kon Knueppel led the Blue Devils in scoring with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Cooper Flagg had another stellar night scoring 16 points along with 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Caleb Foster is another noteworthy Blue Devil as he came off the bench and scored 10 points as he looks to get back on track with his early season production.

The Seminoles have lost 3 of their last 4 matchups playing against the top squads in the ACC. The Noles have dropped to the Clemson Tigers and UNC Tar Heels by double figures and the Louisville Cardinals by 8. The Noles did manage to score 85 points against the Tar Heels behind Jamir Watkins 26 point performance but they did give up 96.

Key Points

Duke

• The ACC and the #1 seed is not wrapped up yet. The Clemson Tigers hold the tiebreaker if the Blue Devils fall one more time this season. The Louisville Cardinals are also sitting right behind the Devils looking for their spot. The Blue Devils have a lot to play for.
• How will Isiah Evans look in the starting lineup? Evans started the second half in place of injured Tyrese Proctor and finished tied for second in scoring. Will he have the same effect in the starting lineup as he does off the bench?
• Khaman Maluach- It is time for the big man to have a demanding performance. He should be able to find a double-double with volume shooters Kon Knueppel and Isiah Evans on the floor for extended minutes. Look for Duke to try to get the 7 footer going on the offensive end.

Florida State

• They have to make the three ball. The Blue Devils are lethal from behind the arc and teams have to make threes to stay in the game. The Blue Devils have run away with their last 5 games thanks to the three point disparity 
• Sure up the defensive end. The Blue Devils have averaged 99 points a game over their last three games, and 104 if you swap Illinois for UVA. The Noles do not need to get in a shootout with the Blue Devils
• Come out swinging. The Noles need to try to quiet the crazies, a feat few teams have ever accomplished. The Noles need to come out hot from the floor to but the Blue Devils on their heels.