FACTS & STATS: Site: Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314) -- Durham, North Carolina. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Albany 4-0, Duke 5-0. Away Record: Albany 1-4, Duke 0-0. Neutral Record: Albany 0-0, Duke 4-0. Conference Record: Albany 0-0, Duke 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The sixth-ranked Duke Blue Devils will attempt to remain undefeated as they play host to the Albany Great Danes in non-conference action. Albany carried a three-game losing streak into its meeting with St. Francis (NY) on Saturday, but that tilt resulted in a 66-53 triumph. The Great Danes are now 5-4 overall this season, but they are 1-4 on the road and have yet to face a team of Duke's caliber. Speaking of the Blue Devils, they have been idle since a 95-67 romp over Michigan back on December 8th. Duke is a perfect 9-0 overall, and they have beaten the likes of Illinois, Marquette and Wisconsin along the way. The club has yet to play a true road game, something that won't happen until January 9th. This game marks the first-ever meeting between Albany and Duke on the hardwood.

Albany is far from explosive at the offensive end of the floor, as the team is averaging a modest 65.4 ppg on 43.4 percent shooting from the field. Fortunately, the Great Danes have played outstanding defense, limiting the opposition to 59.2 ppg on 39.1 percent overall shooting. They are outrebounding foes by an average of 8.6 rpg, key to the team's winning record. Brian Lillis leads Albany with 13.4 ppg, and he is also tops with 3.2 apg and 16 steals. Brian Connelly is second in scoring (10.2 ppg) and leads the way in rebounding (6.1 rpg). A 20-5 advantage in points from the foul line and a 41-32 rebounding edge proved key for the Great Danes in their recent win over St. Francis (NY). Tim Ambrose came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points in only 16 minutes of action, and Connelly pitched in 15 points and nine rebounds. Connelly finished the game with 14 points, while Brent Wilson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.

In Duke's 28-point pasting over Michigan last time out, a pair of freshmen stepped forward with big performances. Taylor King posted 18 points and Nolan Smith pitched in 17, as both players saw 20 minutes of action off the bench. The Blue Devils also got 12 points from Gerald Henderson and 10 points apiece from DeMarcus Nelson and Jon Scheyer. Duke connected on 49.3 percent of its field goal attempts in the clash and finished with 19 assists against only eight turnovers. Strong defense also played a role in the blowout, as Michigan was only able to shoot 37.9 percent from the floor. Henderson and Kyle Singler lead the team with 13.6 ppg apiece, and Nelson checks in with 11.7 ppg. Scheyer and King round out the double-digit scorers with 10.9 ppg and 10.8 ppg, respectively. Duke is averaging 86.7 ppg through nine outings on the strength of its 49.9 percent overall shooting, including 42.4 percent accuracy from three-point range. The Blue Devils are limiting opponents to 62.0 ppg on 40.1 percent shooting.

Obviously, Duke is the only pick in this matchup, as the Blue Devils figure to jump on top early and never look back.

Predicted Outcome

Duke 87, Albany 60