Notre Dame Basketball: Staff Picks - Duke

Pat Rick, Editor (5-3) (6-6)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 73 - Georgia Tech 69 (Kansas W, Butler L, Duke W, North Carolina L)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 82 - Duke Blue Devils 76

“I'm not dumb enough to doubt Mike Brey, especially at home against Duke, who he's owned over the past 3+ years (5-1 against them since joining the ACC). Brey will push all the right buttons to get the team turned around after losing 3 of the last 4, and BONZIE COLSON will show out against a team he always seems to play well against (averaging 15.2 points and 7 rebounds in 5 career games vs. Duke). Luke Kennard will be troublesome for the Irish, but Vasturia and Pflueger will do enough to slow him down. Grayson Allen will not trip anyone, but the student section will chant things at him anyway. Also, Geben's dunking the ball in this one. Get ready, Amile Jefferson.”

BONUS PICKS

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma - Oklahoma State
Creighton @ Butler - Butler
Maryland @ Ohio State - Maryland
West Virginia @ Iowa State - West Virginia

Jeff Czerniakowski, Staff Writer (6-2) (5-7)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 81 - Georgia Tech 75 (Kentucky L, Georgetown W, Duke W, North Carolina L)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 81 - Duke Blue Devils 79

“A home game is needed at this exact time. I'm going to put my trust in Mike Brey over Duke's coaching staff who is still missing Coach K. This should be a high scoring affair and fun to watch. Great sign from last game is that VJ Beachem was the top scorer. This team is so much better when he is leading the offensive charge.”

BONUS PICK

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State - Oklahoma
Creighton @ Butler - Butler
Maryland @ Ohio State - Maryland
West Virginia @ Iowa State - West Virginia

Ryan Chichester, Staff Writer (6-2) (6-6)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 79 - Georgia Tech (Kentucky L, Butler L, Duke W, Miami W)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 79 - Duke Blue Devils 74

“Mike Brey owns Duke. Bonzie Colson is their GM. He will post a big double double and get the Irish back on track at home. After all, Duke has looked anything but impressive in recent weeks.”

BONUS PICKS

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma - Oklahoma State
Creighton @ Butler - Butler
Maryland @ Ohio State - Maryland
West Virginia @ Iowa State - West Virginia

Brad Wechter, Editor (5-3) (4-8)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 75 - Georgia Tech 69 (Kentucky L, Butler L, Duke W, North Carolina L)

Duke Blue Devils 70 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish 62

“With the way the season has gone, this feels like the right pick.”

BONUS PICKS

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Creighton @ Butler - Creighton
Maryland @ Ohio State - Maryland
West Virginia @ Iowa State - West Virginia

Bobby Norell, Editor (4-4) (4-8)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 72 - Georgia Tech 67 (Kansas W, Butler L, Wake Forest L, Miami W)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 84 - Duke Blue Devils 79

“I am a little torn on this one. On one hand I know Duke is not as bad as some people are making them out to be. At some point they’re going to turn the corner. On the other hand I’ve learned not to doubt this Notre Dame program, even when it looks like things aren’t going too well.

With all that said, I’m going with the Irish in another classic between these two programs. The Irish are going to be hungry after not playing that well the last two times out. The Purcell Pavilion crowd will be raucous as they welcome in the Blue Devils. The absence of Coach K will be felt once again for Duke.

Aside from Colson, I like senior guard Steve Vasturia to have a rebound performance after scoring just 5 points on 1-7 shooting vs. Georgia Tech.”

BONUS PICKS

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma - Oklahoma State
Creighton @ Butler - Butler
Maryland @ Ohio State - Maryland
West Virginia @ Iowa State - Iowa State

Joshua Vowles, Site Manager (5-3) (6-6)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 80 - Georgia Tech 73 (Kentucky L, Georgetown W, Duke W, North Carolina L)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 83 - Duke Blue Devils 80

BONUS PICKS

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma - Oklahoma
Creighton @ Butler - Butler
Maryland @ Ohio State - Ohio State
West Virginia @ Iowa State - Iowa State