All eyes are on the most anticipated matchup for the ACC/SEC Challenge, which is Duke hosting the defending National Champion Florida Gators.
Currently, the Gators are a struggling team, splitting their games in San Diego, with a loss to TCU and a win over Providence. Meanwhile, we are looking at a strong Duke team that has yet to lose a game.
Heading into this matchup, audiences will be watching a Florida team looking to prove what its ceiling is this season. The non-conference matchup brings tons of excitement, as Duke looks to add to its resume for a potential No. 1 NCAA tourney seed down the line.
Coming off a dominant performance by freshman Cameron Boozer, the No. 1 player in the Ballilsife National POY Ladder, against Arkansas, all eyes will be on how the 2025 Mr. Basketball USA at Columbus (Miami) performs against Florida’s front court. As for Florida, the biggest headline this season is Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee and his struggles with shooting the ball. However in the win over Providence, Lee recorded 20 points, his season high so far. Florida head coach Todd Golden stated how vital Lee’s scoring can be to the team, “It obviously raises our ceiling quite a bit.”
For both teams, this game means a lot, but for different reasons. Right now Duke is 2-0 against SEC teams and another non-conference win would be a notch on its resume. For Florida, a win would mean this team is to be taken as a serious contender come March.
Duke is an exceptional defensive team, allowing 58.8 points, good for third in the country. Offensively, it is averaging 91.9 points a game. For Duke to win, it will need to win the rebound battle, as the Gators are the best team in the country on the boards. If center Patrick Ngongba II has a big game on the glass, the Blue Devils will be in business.
No. 4 Duke (8-0) vs. No. 15 Florida (5-2)
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium; Durham, N.C.
When: Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025; 7:30 PM EST
Watch: ESPN
Line: Duke -8.5
Impact Players
For the Blue Devils, they are going to need as much production as possible from their guards, however, Ngongba II’s impact is going to be critical. The Gators often run three bigs, so Duke is going to need to push back against Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu.
For the Gators, Lee is starting to find his footing and knock down shots, so his production will be most critical. We know what to expect from the Gators’ front-court, however fans have no idea what to expect from Florida’s guards each game. With Duke running three guards, this means the Gators’ perimeter defense will need to step up, and also make key shots. Lee and Boogie Fland will have to finish strong for the Gators.
For the series, Duke leads 5-2, dating back to 1973. The last time these two teams met was in 2017, with Duke winning 87-84.
Prediction
Florida needs more from Fland, and are going to need an exceptional game from Lee to have a chance at winning the game. Even though Florida was able to maintain its front court from last season, it’s not going to be enough to beat the powerhouse team coach Jon Scheyer has created.
With the way Duke has been dominating its opponents, it’s hard to pick against them. Florida is going to put up a fight, but its struggles from the field will rear its ugly head.
Final Score: Duke 95, Florida 87