Duke and Syracuse have developed an interesting rivalry since the latter joined the ACC. Duke has essentially maintained its position as one of the top national programs, Covid year aside. Syracuse, by contrast, is in decline and struggling to stay over .500.
But that doesn’t mean that Duke is a lock or anything.
For one, Syracuse always gets up for Duke. For another, Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone always gives even a bad Syracuse team a puncher’s chance. And for another, a young Duke team is probably down a key player as freshman Trevor Keels is listed as doubtful.