Oral Roberts vs Duke prediction & game preview- March 16, 2023 | March Madness 2023
In one of the more exciting opening matchups of the NCAA Tournament, fifth-seeded Duke will face off against 12th-seeded Oral Roberts in the East region. Both teams have played their best basketball down the stretch and are likely not thrilled to be facing off against each other.
Duke (26-8) has won nine games in a row, including securing the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title. The Blue Devils rank 21st in the country according to KenPom rankings and allow just 63.8 points per game, which is the 35th-best rate in the country, while producing 71.8 of their own (178th).
The only nonconference losses for Duke came at the hands of Kansas and Purdue, who each earned No. 1 seeds in the tournament.
However, Oral Roberts will be no pushover. ORU ranks 24th in field-goal and free-throw percentage, 22nd in adjusted offensive efficiency and 37th in 3-point percentage.
The Golden Eagles (30-4) have won 17 straight games and went a perfect 18-0 in conference play this year. They score at the third-best rate in the country by averaging 82.1 ppg.
They are headlined by senior guard Max Abmas, who averages 22.2 ppg, which is seventh best in the nation. Senior Connor Vanover, who is 7-foot-5, also makes an impressive impact by averaging 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Despite his massive frame, he is much more comfortable as a shooter, and his frame is too thin to do much damage down low.
Quick scout on Connor Vanover:
7’5
Loves to turn and shoot
No post game
Comfortable shooting from anywhere
Doesn’t fight for boards
Paint presence only bc of height
Anywhere between 2-4 screens per possession/often pops https://t.co/ODek8unOPk
Duke vs. Oral Roberts prediction
If the bracket had shaken out differently, there is a pretty good chance both of these teams would advance a round. However, Oral Roberts will get the short end of the stick by running into Duke in Round One.
While the Golden Eagles are no pushover and will require Duke to play at a high level, there is still a significant gap in the top-end talent of these two teams. Duke freshman Kyle Filipowski will be able to match up with Connor Vanover with a 7-foot frame and outside ability of his own. Filipowski is averaging a team-high 15.4 ppg and 9.0 rpg.
Duke will also lean on the veteran leadership of Jeremy Roach. The junior guard has played a notable role in each of the past three seasons and has averaged 13.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds this year. He has stepped up and hit some big shots this season and can be counted on to do the same throughout this tournament.
It feels as if Duke has remembered the high-level team it is capable of being these past few weeks and will now look to prove it in the tournament. Count on first-year coach Jon Scheyer to pick up his first March Madness victory in this one.