Top Ranked Duke, NC State Are Facing Quick Turnarounds Because They're Facing Each Other Monday Night In Raleigh

On Saturday top ranked Duke hosted 11th ranked Virginia in Durham while NC State played Notre Dame in South Bend.

Where?

On the hardwood!

Top ranked Duke, NC State are facing quick turnarounds because they’re facing each other Monday night in North Carolina’s state capital!

Where?

On the hardwood!

Top ranked Duke comes into the only 2025-2026 regular season match up with NC State with record of 27-2 overall while they’re 15-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference because they acquired a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title because on Saturday February 28, 2026 Duke stifled 11th ranked Virginia who is behind them in Atlantic Coast Conference standings olding Virginia 16-55 on field goals for 29 % 7-35 on 3 pointers for 20 % . One player was in double figures for Virginia!

That player was Thijs De Ridder who is a freshman who is a forward who was 5-11 on field goals 2-4 on 3 pointers , 4-4 on free throws to go along 3 rebounds, 1 block 16 points on Saturday in Durham.

While top ranked Duke stifled 11th ranked Virginia defensively offensively Duke had three players score in double figures!

Those players were Cameron Boozer who is a freshman who is a forward who was 3-9 on field goals, 1-4 on 3 pointers, 11-12 on free throws to go along 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 18 points. Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore who is a guard was 7-11 on field goals , 5-9 on 3 pointers to go along 3 assists, 19 points

Patrick Ngongba II who is a sophomore who is a center was 5-9 on field goals , 1-2 on 3 pointers to go along 5 rebounds, 1 assists, 11 points.

Following top ranked Duke stifling 11 ranked Virginia on their way to acquiring share of ACC Title with 77-51 win Saturday Virginia Head Coach Ryan Odom shared his thoughts on the coach job Jon Scheyer has done by saying Jon’s team is well-balanced,”They know who they are offense. They know who they are on defense. They’re a typical tough-minded Duke basketball team that’s going to rebound and pressure the ball and get up in your grill.

Following top ranked Duke stifling 11 ranked Virginia on their way to acquiring share of ACC Title with 77-51 win Saturday Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer shared his thoughts by saying “You can go about it two different ways,”

You can double down on the guys who have been in your program and the guys who are committed to you, or you can look elsewhere. I think the best decision we made … is doubling down on the players we had in our program.”

He’s done a great job since he took over,”There’s no more pressure situation than what he’s been thrust into. He and his staff have done a fabulous job of following a legend.”

According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article314798589.html

NC State comes into the game with top ranked Duke with record of 19-10 overall is 10-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference is sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings because they’ve lost two straight Atlantic Coast Conference games. NC State’s latest Atlantic Coast Conference loss came on Saturday February 28, 2026 6to Notre Dame in overtime in South Bend by score of 96-90 where as a team NC State let shoot 31-69 for 53 % on field goals 12-25 on 3 pointers . NC State allowed Cole Certa who is sophomore a guard for Notre Dame shoot 9-17 on field goals , 6-10 on 3 pointers to go along with 32 points. while they allowed four players to score in double figures. Those players were Jalen Harleson who is a freshman a forward was 8-15 on field goals , 0-1 on 3 pointers , 9-10 on free throws to go along with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 25 points. Sir Mohammed who is a sophomore who is a guard was 4-6 on field goals , 0-1 on free throws , 2-3 on free throws to go along 3 rebounds, 3 assists , 10 points.

NC State was 31-67 for 46 % was 10-34 on 3 pointers. Had four players in double figures. Darrion Williams who is a senior who is a forward was 7-17 on field goals was 3-10 on 3 pointers to go along 6 rebounds, 2 assists 17 points. Ven- Allen Lubin who is a senior who is a transfer from NC State’s tobacco road rival North Carolina was 8-10 on field goals , 8-9 on free throws to go along 10 rebounds, 24 points. Paul McNeil Jr. who is a sophomore who is a guard was 4-13 on field goals, 3-11 on 3 pointers to go along 4 rebounds, 11 points. Quadir Copeland who is a senior who is a guard was 5-8 on field goals to go along with 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 17 points.

Following NC State losing to Notre Dame in overtime Saturday in South Bend NC State Head Coach Will Wade shared his thoughts by saying “Well, we don’t play on the road anymore,” N.C. State“We were competitive today. It was a great game; was a back and forth game. Notre Dame made more plays down the stretch. We missed some shots against the zone. … Certainly, Virginia and Louisville, we were not [competitive].”“We’ve got to be better with the details. We’ve got to be better with our execution,” Wade said on Saturday. “Obviously, we need to have a better plan for what we’re doing, because we’re not getting the job done.

According to Jadyn Watson Fisher News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article314782565.html

Tip-off for Duke, NC State is set for 7:00pm from Lenovo Center that isn’t only home to NC State Men’s Basketball though the Carolina Hurricanes of NHL as well!

The game is going to be televised on ESPN with Dave O Brien, Cory Alexander, Molly McGrath commentating!

Dave O’Brien serves as a play-by-play commentator for ESPN, calling college basketball and other marquee events across ESPN platforms. One of the most versatile and respected voices in sports broadcasting, O’Brien has been a trusted presence on national broadcasts for more than two decades. 

O’Brien joined ESPN in 2002 and has called a wide range of events for the network, including college basketball, Major League Baseball, and select NCAA Championships.  

In addition to his work with ESPN, O’Brien is also the television voice of the Boston Red Sox on NESN, a role he has held since 2016. Over his distinguished career, he has called MLB postseason games on both television and radio, the World Series, and numerous NCAA Tournament matchups, as well as NBA, NFL, and international soccer broadcasts. 

A graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, O’Brien began his professional career in radio before moving into national television.  

A native of Quincy, Massachusetts, O’Brien resides in the Boston area with his family. 

Cory Alexander joined ESPN in 2009, working as college basketball analyst on ESPN and ACC Network.

Before joining ESPN, Alexander worked as an analyst for the University of Virginia radio network and was an ACC Network commentator for Raycom Sports. He launched the Cory Alexander Basketball School in August 1995 and he still operates it as the owner and president.

His last season in the NBA came with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004-2005, and he previously played for the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets. His first three seasons were spent with the San Antonio Spurs after they drafted him 29th overall in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft.

A 1995 graduate from the University of Virginia with a bachelor of science degree in psychology, Alexander is a native Waynesboro, Va. A four-year letterwinner, he ranks eighth in UVA history with 401 assists and 24th on their all-time scoring list with 1,286 points. Alexander earned second-team All-ACC honors and a gold medal at the FIBA U21 World Championship in 1993. Alexander was a McDonald’s All-American and Parade First Team All-American in 1991 at Oak Hill Academy (Va.).

Molly McGrath joined ESPN in July 2016, and currently serves as the sideline reporter for ESPN/ABC Saturday college football games. She previously hosted various editions of College Football Live and College Basketball Live, and covered select games as a sideline reporter for XFL on ABC. McGrath used to report from the sidelines of ESPN’s Thursday night college football package and regularly served as a sideline reporter on ABC and ESPN for men’s college basketball. 

McGrath, who worked as a production assistant at ESPN in 2011, returns after serving as a sideline reporter and host for college sports and the NFL with Fox Sports. Prior to her time at Fox Sports, she worked for the Boston Celtics as a web and in-arena reporter at the TD Garden while also hosting Celtics Now on Comcast SportsNet New England in 2012 and 2013. She also completed internships with NESN and WHDH-TV in Boston.

McGrath graduated from Boston College in 2011, where she received the Athletic Director’s Award for Academic Excellence. She resides in Seattle with her husband and son.

According to https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/dave-obrien/

https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/cory-alexander/

https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/molly-mcgrath/