Syracuse vs Duke: A Highly Anticipated ACC Showdown
The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team is gearing up for a challenging road game against the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils on Monday at 7 p.m. ET in Durham. This matchup promises to be a thrilling contest between two ACC powerhouses.
Game Details
- What: Men’s College Basketball Regular Season
- Who: Syracuse Orange (15-11, 6-7 ACC) vs. No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (23-2, 12-1 ACC)
- When: Monday, February 16, 2026
- Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: fuboTV (free trial), DIRECTV (free trial)
Syracuse Riding High on Momentum
The Orange have found their stride, securing back-to-back victories – a feat they hadn’t accomplished in over a month. These wins, against California and SMU, were hard-fought and demonstrate the team’s growing resilience. The double-overtime thriller against California and the last-second victory over SMU have boosted their overall record to 15-11 and their ACC record to 6-7.
Syracuse’s recent success is largely attributed to improved offensive efficiency, shooting nearly 50% from the field during their winning streak. Senior Nate Kingz has been a key contributor, scoring 27 points against California and hitting the game-winning layup against SMU. Kingz currently leads the Orange with an impressive 51 three-pointers this season.
Sophomore Donnie Freeman continues to be a scoring threat, averaging 17.6 points per game and adding a career-high four blocks against SMU. Freshman Kiyan Anthony provided a spark off the bench against SMU with 13 second-half points, while junior Naithan George has been distributing the ball effectively, racking up 16 assists across the two victories. Senior William Kyle III is a defensive force, ranking tied for third nationally with 69 blocked shots.
Duke: A Formidable Opponent
Duke enters the game as the clear favorite, sitting atop the ACC standings with a dominant 23-2 overall record and a 12-1 conference mark. The Blue Devils are renowned for their stifling defense, ranking third nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 63.1 points per game while averaging an impressive 82.2 points offensively.
Despite a recent loss to North Carolina that ended their 10-game ACC winning streak, Duke quickly rebounded with victories over Pittsburgh and Clemson. Freshman Cameron Boozer is the driving force behind Duke’s offense, leading both the Blue Devils and the ACC in scoring with an average of 22.8 points per game, along with 9.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Sophomore Isaiah Evans adds 14.4 points per contest and leads the team with 62 three-pointers.
Historical Context
Duke holds a significant advantage in the all-time series between the two programs, leading 17-6. This will be the 24th meeting between Syracuse and Duke, and the Orange will be looking to close the gap.
This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Syracuse.com staff.
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