Surprising Team Predicted to Hand Duke Basketball First Loss of 2016-17 Season

Duke Basketball’s projected to go undefeated in non-conference play, but an improving ACC team was predicted to hand the Blue Devils their first loss of the season.

Bleacher Report recently compiled a list predicting the first loss of the 2016-17 season for the college basketball teams. Duke Basketball enters as the favorites to win the 2017 national title, but a surprising team was picked to hand the Blue Devils their first loss for the upcoming season.

Duke is projected to finish non-conference play undefeated heading into conference competition at 13-0. However, Bleacher Report predicts the Blue Devils will suffer their first loss of the season in their ACC opener against Virginia Tech on New Year’s Eve. Virginia Tech is an improving program under head coach Buzz Williams, and the Hokies made an impressive run to end conference play and in the ACC Tournament last season.

Duke blew out VT last season in an 82-58 win, but the last time the Blue Devils went to Blacksburg the narrowly escaped with a win in 2015 winning 91-86 in overtime. This game will the team’s first conference game and also their first true road game of the year for Duke after playing home and neutral site games to start the season.

The Blue Devils will have national title expectations for the upcoming college basketball season returning several key players and adding the top freshman class. Duke Basketball will start the regular season hosting Marist on Nov. 11th as part of the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.

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