Louisville vs. Duke preview: Cardinals look for season-changing win in Durham

Louisville Cardinals (18-9, 8-6) At Duke Blue Devils (22-5, 10-4)

Game Time: 9:05 p.m.

Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium: Durham, N.C.

Television: ESPN

Announcers: Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Maria Taylor (reporter)

Officials: Roger Ayers, Michael Stephens, Ed Corbett

Favorite: Duke by 11.5

Probable Starting Lineups:

Series: Duke leads, 8-6

Last Meeting: Duke won 81-77 in the ACC tournament quarterfinals on March 8, 2017 in Brooklyn

Series History:

Statistics:

Relevant Videos:

About Duke:

Ranked fifth in both the AP and USA Today polls, Duke enters Wednesday night’s game against Louisville riding a three game winning streak. The Blue Devils won all three of those games by nine points or more.

Mike Krzyzewski’s team ranks third in the nation in scoring offense (87.4 ppg), fourth in rebounding margin (+9.4), eighth in assists (17.9 apg), 14th in field goal percentage (.501) and 22nd in field goal percentage defense (.404). Duke is No. 2 in the Sagarin Ratings, No. 3 by Ken Pomeroy and No. 4 in the RPI. They currently sit alone in second place in the ACC standings, three games behind Virginia and a half game ahead of North Carolina.

Notable:

—Mike Krzyzewski’s 4-6 record vs. Louisville is his lowest winning percentage against any school he has faced more than six times. He hasn’t lost 6 games against any other school without at least 21 meetings.

—Louisville is third in the nation in blocked shots (6.5 bpg) and ranks 15th in field goal percentage defense (.401) and 43rd in steals per game (7.6).

—Anas Mahmoud is eighth in the nation in blocked shots (3.07). Ray Spalding is 24th in offensive rebounds (3.30).

—Louisville has a 31-19 record in its conference road games over the last six years (.612). U of L is tied for the fourth-most conference road wins in its four years in the ACC with 17.

—Duke freshman star Marvin Bagley has missed the team’s last three games because of a knee sprain. Bagley’s 21.2 points leads five Blue Devils averaging double figures.

—Duke has an effective field goal percentage of .569 (16th nationally) and is second in offensive efficiency (126.5).

—Louisville earned its second national title with a 72-69 over Duke in the 1986 NCAA Championship game.

—Louisville and Duke are two of just four schools that have won 20 or more games in each of the last 15 seasons (also Kansas and Gonzaga). The Cardinals need two victories to extend that streak.

—After allowing 75.4 points per game over the first 15 games this season (15th in the ACC), Duke is yielding just 66.2 ppg over its last 12 -- the 40th-best points allowed in the country over that span.

—Louisville has a 59-21 record during the month of February over the last 10 years (.747).

Ken Pomeroy Prediction: Duke 87, Louisville 75