The NCAA basketball season is starting with the best possible matchup between Duke University and the University of Kentucky at the basketball most glamorous stage at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
Duke University Stats & Form
If the 2020-21 season for Duke basketball could be described with only one word, that word would be – disappointing. The Blue Devils started the season terribly and only a few weeks later they were already out of the AP and Coaches Poll rankings. They finished the season with a 13-11 record to finish 10th place in the ACC.
Duke’s season ended with a withdrawal from the ACC Tournament due to positive COVID-19 results within the team. Consequently, the Blue Devils failed to receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995 ending the second longest active streak of NCAA appearances.
Duke University News
This season will be special for the Blue Devils as their legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski would retire following the completion of the season after 42 years as head coach of Duke and 47 years of coaching.
The team looks pretty different from last year since eight players have left with only Jalen Johnson being drafted to the NBA.
The greatest hope for the Blue Devils this season will be freshman star Paolo Banchero, who many project to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
University of Kentucky Stats & Form
The Wildcats are also coming off a historically bad season as they finished with a 9-16 record last year, their worst winning percentage since the 1926–27 season. Things got bad from the very start of the season as Kentucky opened up with 1-6 record, their worst start since 1911. As a result, they missed the postseason for the first time in nine seasons.
Coach John Calipari, who is starting his 13th season at Kentucky, has used the summer to rebuild his team and hopes that the Wildcats will bounce back. He started with adding assistant coaches Ron “Chin” Coleman and Orlando Antigua.
University of Kentucky News
Kentucky will have a new roster this season but not because many players went to the pros. As a matter of fact, only Isaiah Jackson was drafted in the first round.
Keion Brooks Jr. will be the new veteran leader as he will play the stretch-four position paired with West Virginia transfer Oscar Tshiebwe. Another new face in the team will be freshman Daimion Collins, the No. 13-ranked recruit in the high school class of 2021.
Duke University vs University of Kentucky Head-to-Head Stats
Kentucky is leading the all-time series against Duke, 12-10. Duke has won four of their last five games against the Wildcats with the last one being a blowout, 118-84 back in November 2018 in Indianapolis.
Austria vs. North Macedonia Betting Odds
Duke is a slight favorite to win this one with -115 odds compared to -105 of Kentucky with the spread being only -1. The total margin is set at 148.5 points meaning that three of their last five games has been under this mark.
Duke University and University of Kentucky Betting Tips
One thing is for sure as Duke and Kentucky take on the Madison Square Garden floor and that’s that will see a tough basketball battle with no easy points. The Blue Devils will be under much pressure since their coach will play his last game in the basketball mecca.
Kentucky has a much more experienced roster and players who might win the game on individual brilliance.
Still, we would rather suggest playing under the 148.5 margin as the opening nights are usually low scoring ones.
- Tip Quote (Home team win): -115 by Bet365
- Tip Quote (Away team win): -105 by Bet365
- Expert betting tip: Under 148.5 (-110 by Bet365
