No. 4 Duke, Syracuse Clash in ACC Showdown

Both teams enter the matchup with momentum after recent wins.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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No. 4 Duke and Syracuse are set to face off in an ACC clash on Monday night. Duke has won 23 of its 25 games this season and is in first place in the conference, while Syracuse has won its last two games in dramatic fashion. The teams will be looking to continue their recent success in the highly anticipated matchup.

Why it matters

This game features two of the top teams in the ACC, with Duke ranked 4th nationally and Syracuse looking to build on its recent momentum. The outcome could have major implications for the conference standings and NCAA Tournament seeding as the regular season winds down.

The details

Duke is led by freshman forward Cameron Boozer, who has been dominant in recent games, leading the team in points, rebounds and assists. Syracuse has also gotten strong play from its bench, with freshman Kiyan Anthony providing a spark in the team's last game. The Blue Devils will be looking to extend their 29-game home winning streak, while the Orange aim to pull off the road upset.

  • The game will take place on Monday, February 17, 2026.
  • Duke defeated No. 20 Clemson 67-54 in its most recent game on Saturday, February 15.
  • Syracuse won back-to-back home games against California (in double overtime) and SMU in its last two contests.

The players

Cameron Boozer

Duke freshman forward who has led the team in points, rebounds and assists in six games this season, breaking a 30-year-old ACC record.

Kiyan Anthony

Syracuse freshman who scored 13 points off the bench in the team's most recent win, matching his high mark in ACC play.

J.J. Starling

Syracuse guard and team leader who played only 19 minutes in the last game but will be ready to contribute against Duke.

Maliq Brown

Duke reserve player who will be facing his former team, Syracuse, in the matchup.

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What they’re saying

“We don't try to make statements to anybody else. I feel like we just look at every game as an opportunity to find out about ourselves.”

— Isaiah Evans, Duke swingman (kmjnow.com)

“The fight that these guys had these last two games. There's no quit in this team. We have some dips here and there, but they continue to fight.”

— Adrian Autry, Syracuse head coach (kmjnow.com)

“It's pretty much how the (NCAA) Tournament is. It's really just about moving on from this (Clemson) game, whether you have good feelings or bad feelings, washing them all away and getting prepared for Monday.”

— Cameron Boozer, Duke freshman forward (kmjnow.com)

What’s next

The winner of Monday's game will take a big step towards securing a high seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the top teams in the ACC promises to be an exciting and hard-fought battle, with both Duke and Syracuse looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.