Prepping for Duke-Wake Forest

A tasty top-six treat from Winston-Salem tonight. Duke, now being top-ranked, can be properly hated, as it should be. The Freakin’ Deacons and Screamin’ Demons will do their best Cameron Crazies impression. Last week at this time, Wake Forest was clutching the No. 1 ranking, then promptly fell at home to Virginia Tech. Will it be two straight Wednesday night losses at home?

It’s the first time in four season that Duke has been able to climb its way to the top of the polls. No matter; Duke is measured by March. For Wake Forest, the task seems to be clear (and quite possibly achievable): Stop Kyle Singler — at all costs. Singler leads Duke in points (16.5), rebounds (8.1), assists (2.9) and steals (1.8). If Wake wants to risk Gerald Henderson’s points for keeping Singler in check, it may be worth its while.

And as for the Deacs, it seems that many an inked word has been written about Jeff Teague. That’s fine, but Al-Farouq Aminu, in my opinion, is the most dynamic freshman in the country. How does Duke shut him down? Teague turns the ball over, and kind of frequently, so I’m not sure Duke settles its gameplan around stopping him tonight; he’ll get his 20 points, five assists and four turnovers, probably.

It should be a fine defensive battle, and I’d be shocked if either team cracks 70.

Also: Duke is going for its 11th consecutive victory. Let’s hope the game finishes before LOST begins.

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