Duke Vs Army Basketball 2021: Who Will Win?
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The Duke Blue Devils and Army Black Knights will face off in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Who will win this matchup?
Introduction
The 2021 college Basketball season is just around the corner, and there are a handful of games that are already generating a lot of buzz. One such matchup is the Duke Blue Devils vs the Army Black Knights These two teams are no strangers to each other, as they have faced off a total of four times in the past. However, their most recent meeting was back in 1963, so there is definitely some history between these two programs.
So, who will come out on top in this highly anticipated matchup? army owns a 2-1 all time record against Duke, but Duke is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation while Army is unranked. On paper, it would appear that Duke has the advantage in this game. However, Army is known for being a tough team to beat at home, so Duke will definitely have their work cut out for them.
It should be a great game either way, and we can’t wait to see which team comes out on top!
Duke’s season so far
Duke University’s men’s basketball team is currently ranked number 1 in the NCAA Division I. They have a record of 25-1 and are poised to make a deep run in the 2021 NCAA tournament The team is led by star players such as Zion Williamson RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish Duke has wins over some of the best teams in the country, including Kentucky, Gonzaga, Florida State and Virginia. They have only one loss on the season, which came at the hands of Syracuse.
Army is currently ranked number 24 in the NCAA Division I. They have a record of 21-5 and are also poised to make a deep run in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Army is led by star player Kelsey Minato. The team has wins over some good teams, including Bucknell, Lehigh, Navy, and Boston University They have five losses on the season, with two of those coming against Duke.
Duke is obviously the better team on paper, but Army always gives them a tough game. In their last meeting, Duke won by just four points. It should be another close game this year, but Duke will ultimately come out victorious.
Army’s season so far
Army’s season has not been ideal so far, as the team has lost important games to both Bucknell and Lehigh. However, the team has shown some resilience in recent weeks, winning four of their last five games. The most recent victory was a convincing one over Navy, in which Army outscored their rivals by fourteen points.
Duke, on the other hand, has had a much better season so far. The team is currently ranked number two in the country, and they have only lost two games all year. Duke’s most recent game was a comfortable victory over Wake Forest and they will be coming into this match-up with Army full of confidence.
Based on these factors, it is clear that Duke is the favourites to win this game. However, Army should not be underestimated, as they have proved that they can compete with the best teams in the country. It should be a close and exciting game!
Keys to the game
In order for Duke to win this game, they will need to focus on a few key things.
Firstly, they will need to control the pace of the game. Army is known for their methodical style of play, and if Duke can force them to play at a faster pace, it will be to their advantage.
Secondly, they will need to rebound the ball well. Army is one of the best teams in the country at crashing the glass, so Duke will need to make sure they box out and limit second-chance points.
Lastly, they will need to take care of the ball. Army is very good at forcing turnovers, so Duke will need to be patient on offense and avoid careless mistakes.
X-factors
In any big game there are always a few Key Players that have the potential to make or break the outcome. Here are a few of the x-factors that will be worth watching in the Duke vs Army matchup.
Duke:
-RJ Barrett: One of the most talented college basketball players in recent memory, Barrett has the ability to take over a game and will be a big factor in determining whether Duke comes out on top.
--Cam Reddish Reddish is another key player for Duke, and his outside shooting will be crucial against Army’s tough defense.
--Zion Williamson The freshman phenom has been one of the most dominant players in college basketball this season, and his play will be crucial for Duke in this matchup.
Army:
-Kell Walker: Army’s leading scorer and one of the best all-around players in the country, Walker will need to have a big game for Army to pull off the upset.
-John Emezie: Emezie is Army’s second leading scorer and gives them another scoring threat to go along with Walker.
-Tommy Funk: The point guard for Army, Funk will need to control the tempo of the game and make good decisions with the ball if they want to come out on top.
Predictions
It’s that time of year again! The Duke Blue Devils and Army Black Knights will face off in what is sure to be an exciting game. But who will win?
The oddsmakers have Duke as a heavy favorite, but Army has upset Duke in the past. Army is also coming off a strong season in which they won the Patriot League
So who will win? We make our predictions below.
Prediction 1: Duke will win by 14 points.
Prediction 2: Army will win by 3 points.
Conclusion
It is difficult to say who will win the Duke vs Army basketball game in 2021. Both teams are strong and have a lot of potential. It will likely be a close game but Duke has a slight edge. They are a more experienced team and have more depth. They also have the home court advantage Army will need to play a perfect game to win, but it is certainly possible.