By james art 
While the number 2 in Duke’s men’s basketball seems to win their 13th consecutive guest game against Wake Forest, The Chronicle’s beats are here to make their competition forecasts:
Ranjan Jindal: 78-68 Duke
This will probably be the most difficult ACC test for Duke from Louisville and is extremely difficult to play on the road, especially against a team in a series of six wins. However, Wake Forest is the last in ACC by a percentage of 3 points and while Demon Deacons have quality shooters, I think Blue Devils will cause them to get hot. One thing I am also curious to see is the correction of Efton Reid III defense after the outbreak with 19 points of Chad Vening from Boston College last week. I think the whole training week will help the blue devils who want to avenge, win at Winston-Salem.
Home Phenolio: 81-77 Duke
I think Saturday can meet with relatively high results, as both teams will be hungry in an offensive end. Although they defeated North Carolina the last time, Wake Forst struggled to get the ball into the basket – especially the star guard Hunter Salis had a hard evening, shooting only 7 for 19 of the field. Similarly, after failing to score in Duke’s victory against Boston College, freshman horse Knupel has something to prove to himself. Both Salis and Knupel are an extremely talented goal scorers and I doubt both will have another day off this time. In terms of the difference, the blue devils know firsthand how difficult it is to win in Winston-Salem and even the way Duke has gone through the ACC so far, I expect Demon Deacons to fight until the last referee signal.
Sophie Levenson: Duke 84-77
I know that Wake Forest is the hardest team Duke has encountered for a while, and I’m sure they will be a legal challenge to the reign of the Blue Devil terror, but I don’t see that it is indeed that really causes a disorder. At his press conference on Thursday, Shayer made it clear that his team was preparing to enter a hostile environment during his weekend. Duke just visited Conte Forum, where the team felt the taste of an enemy stadium after its three home games; The Blue Devils have not forgotten how to play in enemy territory. These blue devils are required to stumble at some point in the conference game, but I don’t think they are ready for it today.
Caleb Dudley: Duke 75-72
I will stick to the assessment I gave to Cameron Chronicle this week, a narrow victory to Duke. The last time Duke won the Winston-Salem, he had to outlive the heroic performance of the Demon Deacon star Alondes Williams. I see a similar game that is developing today, as Cooper Flag and Knupel do enough to overcome Salis’s explosion and to establish further domination of ACC. The continued absence of Maliq Brown may cause problems when it comes to protecting the talented front court of Wake Forest, but I rely on the continued development of Khaman Maluach to handle the business.
Abi Dyalvo: Duke 75-62
This season, Tobacco Road is entirely for revenge and the Blue Devils should have no problem restoring the order against Demon Deacons. Wake Forest has several weapons in its arsenal – namely Sallis, which equals Flagg with 19.2 points per game – but Demon Deacons are struggling to find separation from other ACC teams. They have an average difference of only 9.6 points to win at the conference, which is double-digit less than the average difference of 23 points per Duke. Although Wake Forest has much stronger protection than some other teams that Duke has stood up, I still think the blue devils will win home from Winston-Sale for the first time in 2022.
Rodrigo Amare: Duke 80-65
Despite the Wake Forest record of 15-4 and a series of six wins, I don’t think Demon Deacons are as good as the team that upset Duke last year and almost reached the NCAA tournament. In his last match against North Carolina, the team of senior coach Steve Forbes barely managed to escape an unpleasant win by 67-66, shooting only 13.3% out of three and allowing 14 losses. If Wake Forest barely managed to defeat Tar Hyle’s weak team at home, I don’t see the Demon Diaconi set more than a little challenge when the Blue Devils come to Ljvm Coliseum. Duke can fight at the beginning with the tumultuous atmosphere in Winston Salem, but by the second half I expect the difference between the two teams to appear as the Blue Devils have taken out a convincing victory.
Andrew Long: Duke 85-75
With a weak ACC, it must be acknowledged that Wake Forest has separated as one of the leading teams of the conference and perhaps one of the few teams capable of testing the hot blue devils of Shayer. As we have seen last February, Winston-Salem is not an easy place to play. But I say both things mostly as a warning about what I think will be a solid victory for Duke. Since Andrew Carr is now in Kentucky, the Demon Diocons do not have enough response to Flag and Maluah and despite the brilliantness of Hildret and Salis. I believe the perimeter protection of Duke will block them. I saw this one becoming tested in points and competitive all the time, but the difference in talent is huge and the blue devils roll.
Rachel Kaplan: Duke 79-71
Although I think Duke is going to the top, I will not be surprised if this one goes on the way of the household team. Demon Deacons are the most difficult opponent of Blue Devils after Auburn, which was almost two months ago. They were in the dominant series, but there were times when Goliath stumbled – the last minutes against Notre Dame, the first half against Boston College. LJVM Coliseum is not a friend of Duke (Kyle Filipovski can confirm this), and Salis is undoubtedly one of the best players in the conference. However, the defense of the blue devil can endure any match on the road. It will be difficult, a real ACC game, but Duke has the talent to take this one.
Season records
Jindal: 5-0
Phenolio: 5-0
Levenson: 3-2
Dudley: 3-2
Disalvo: 3-2
Amare: 3-2
Long: 3-2
Kaplan: 3-2
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| Sports managing editor
Rachel Kaplan is a senior student of Trinity and editor-in-chief of the 120th volume of The Chronicle.
| Manager
Home Fenolio is a junior of Trinity and managing sports editor of the 120th volume of The Chronicle.
| Sports editor
Ranjan Jindal is a junior at Trinity and sports editor of the 120th volume of The Chronicle.
| Sports managing editor
Sophie Levenson is a junior of Trinity and managing sports editor of the 120th volume of The Chronicle.
Rodrigo Amare is a sophomore of Trinity and assistant editor in the blue zone of the 120th volume of The Chronicle.
Abi Disalvo is a sophomore of Trinity and assistant editor in the blue zone of the 120th volume volume.
| Recruitment/social chair
Andrew Long is the senior director of Trinity and chairman for recruitment/social staff of the 120th Volume of Chronicles. Previously, he was a sports editor for Volume 119.