No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Troy Prediction, Game Preview


Duke vs. Troy prediction and game preview, as the No. 2 seed Blue Devils and No. 15 seed Trojans face off in the NCAA Tournament.


After running through the ACC Tournament, becoming the first team in event history to claim four games in four days, the Duke Blue Devils are a No. 2 seed in the east. Interestingly, Duke isn’t the top-ranked No. 2 seed, as it’s paired up with the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed Villanova.

To meet Villanova, first Duke must get by the Troy Trojans in the East. Troy won the Sun Belt conference in order to make its way to the Big Dance. Here’s how the two teams match up.

Duke vs. Troy Game Preview

Date: March 17
Venue:  Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Region: East

Duke Strengths

Three-point shooting. Luke Kennard, who became a star in 2016-17, has been incredible from 3-point land all year, while Frank Jackson, Jayson Tatum and Grayson Allen can all stretch defenses because of their long-range ability. Tatum could be the X-Factor for the Blue Devils because of his versatility and ability to be an interior and perimeter presence.

Duke Weaknesses

Team defense. Mike Krzyzewski routinely is able to put out a starting five with tremendous offensive ability, but roster turnover has led to defensive lapses over the past couple of years. While Matt Jones is one of the better perimeter defenders in the ACC, the health of Amile Jefferson remains a concern. And the Blue Devils need to communicate much better defensively, especially because of the number of freshmen getting key minutes now.

Duke Blue Devils In-Depth Analysis

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Troy Strengths

Phil Cunningham and the Trojans claimed the Sun Belt title to earn a trip to The Dance. The squad is led by first-team all-league sophomore big man Jordon Varnado, who is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. Guards Wesley Person and Jeremy Hollimon provide the scoring in the backcourt, and former Florida guard DeVon Walker added insurance when he joined the team as a grad transfer. The 6-foot-6 wing joined a veteran roster that relies on the conference’s best offense.

Troy Weaknesses

Varnado was a first-team all-Sun Belt selection for a reason. But at 6-foot-6 and not thick, he may face a bigger frontcourt in the first round. Outside of Walker, Varnado doesn’t have much help on the glass. If the Trojans want to extend their stay in the Big Dance, which will see the Trojans for the first time since 2003, shooting a high percentage from the floor will be necessary to negate any rebounding disadvantage. The Trojans were a No. 6 seed in the Sun Belt tournament and had to win four games in five days, so they have the momentum to give their conference a first-round NCAA win for the third straight year. But size could be an issue.

Troy Trojans In-Depth Analysis

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Duke vs. Troy By The Numbers

Duke Statistics

Scoring Margin: 11.4
Rebounding Margin: 3.8
Turnover Margin: .9
3-Point FG Percentage: 37.6%

Troy Statistics

Scoring Margin: 6.8
Rebounding Margin: 2.8
Turnover Margin: -.1
3-Point FG Percentage: 36.8%

Duke vs. Troy Prediction

It was quite the accomplishment by Troy to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for the Trojans, they’re coming up against a young Duke club that has gelled at the perfect time. Kennard will get hot from the outside, while Tatum will bang around down low. Duke takes this one handily.

Duke vs. Troy Score Prediction: Duke 85, Troy 60

MORE: Complete NCAA Tournament Bracket, Previews, Predictions