NCAAB January 26, 2026

Cameron Indoor Stadium is rocking for a Monday night ACC rematch, and the Blue Devils are in absolutely terrifying form. Duke (18-1, 7-0 ACC) demolished Wake Forest 90-69 on Saturday, with Cameron Boozer pouring in 32 points to remind everyone why he's the most dominant freshman in America. Jon Scheyer's squad owns the best record in Division I over the past two seasons at 52-5, and their 25-game home winning streak makes Cameron Indoor one of the most oppressive environments in all of college basketball. Louisville (14-5, 4-3 ACC) is a talented team, but they're walking into a buzzsaw.

Here's the thing about this matchup: these two already played three weeks ago in Louisville on January 6th, and the Cardinals were actually slight favorites in that one. The fact that Duke is now laying 7.5 points on the road-turned-home flip tells you everything about how differently the market views these teams when you factor in Cameron Indoor. Duke's defense has been suffocating, ranking 17th nationally with a scoring defense of just 65.1 points per game allowed, the best mark in the ACC. Their KenPom ranking has rocketed from No. 8 to No. 3, with the Blue Devils sitting in the top three nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency. That's elite on both ends of the floor.

Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans: A Lethal 1-2 Punch

Cameron Boozer isn't just good, he's historically good. The freshman is the nation's fourth-leading scorer with an ACC-best 23.2 points per game while pulling down 9.9 rebounds (third in the ACC), dishing 4.1 assists, and swiping 1.8 steals per game. He's shooting a scorching .586 from the field. He does everything. And if that wasn't enough, Isaiah Evans has emerged as the ACC's sixth-leading scorer in conference play, averaging 20.2 points and drilling 3.5 three-pointers per ACC game. When both of those guys are cooking, there isn't a defense in the country that can handle Duke's offensive firepower.

Louisville's been an up-and-down team all season. They ripped off 11 straight wins to start the year, including a statement victory over Kentucky (96-88), but conference play has humbled them. The Cardinals are 4-3 in ACC play, dropping three of their last four at one stretch before rebounding with a 100-59 demolition of Pitt. Star freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. missed eight games with a lower back injury but has returned to the lineup, and five-star transfer Adrian Wooley has provided the kind of scoring punch Louisville desperately needs. But even at full strength, asking this team to keep pace with Duke in Cameron Indoor is a tall order.

The Bottom Line

Duke is playing at an elite level on both ends, and Cameron Indoor Stadium has been an absolute fortress with 25 straight wins. The Blue Devils' 65.1 points per game scoring defense is legitimately suffocating, and when you pair that with a Boozer-Evans combination that can explode offensively at any moment, Louisville faces an incredibly difficult task. The Cardinals have the talent to keep this competitive, especially with Brown Jr. back and their confidence boosted after the Pitt blowout. But the 157.5 total suggests this will be a grind-it-out affair where Duke's defensive intensity controls the pace. The 7.5-point spread feels right given the venue advantage and Duke's conference dominance. Louisville has the potential to keep it within single digits, but covering in Cameron Indoor requires sustained excellence that few teams have managed this season.

This is the game of the night, and it isn't close. No. 1 Arizona (20-0, 7-0 Big 12) has been the most dominant team in college basketball this season, and now they face their most daunting road test: a trip to the Marriott Center in Provo to face a BYU team that's 13-0 at home and riding sky-high after AJ Dybantsa's 43-point explosion against Utah on Saturday. The Wildcats are laying just 3.5 points on the road, a line that screams respect for BYU's home court advantage and the Cougars' ability to compete with anyone in the Big 12. This is a classic "something's gotta give" matchup.

Arizona's numbers are borderline absurd. Tommy Lloyd's squad is averaging 89.9 points per game (12th nationally), their offensive rating sits at 122.7 (14th), and their defensive rating of 93.2 ranks 11th in the country. They've been balanced, deep, and relentless. Their 88-53 dismantling of West Virginia in their most recent outing was their eighth consecutive win by 20 or more points, tying a program record that's stood since 1929. Let that sink in. They aren't just winning games, they're obliterating opponents. Koa Peat (14.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and Brayden Burries (14.0 PPG) lead a scoring attack that spreads the wealth and makes Arizona incredibly difficult to game-plan against.

AJ Dybantsa: BYU's Freshman Sensation

If there's anyone who can disrupt Arizona's perfect season, it might be the kid who just dropped 43 points in a rivalry game without breaking a sweat. AJ Dybantsa has been the most electrifying freshman in the Big 12 not named Cameron Boozer, earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week twice already and landing on the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List. His 43-point outburst against Utah on Saturday broke BYU's freshman scoring record, and the confidence flowing through this kid right now is palpable. BYU (17-2, 7-1 Big 12) lost their only Big 12 game at Texas Tech, and their 13-0 home record suggests the Marriott Center will be an incredibly hostile environment Monday night.

The ATS trends tell an interesting story here. Arizona is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games and 12-7-1 against the spread overall this season, meaning they've been covering more often than not. However, the Wildcats are just 2-4 ATS in their last six meetings with BYU, a stat that suggests the Cougars know how to keep these games closer than the market expects. On BYU's side, they're a concerning 1-4 ATS in their last five games, meaning they've been losing to the spread even while winning outright. That's a red flag for BYU backers, though the electrifying Dybantsa performance and home court could reset that trend.

The Bottom Line

This is the biggest test of Arizona's unbeaten season. The Marriott Center will be deafening, BYU has a legitimate star in Dybantsa who can go nuclear at any moment, and the Cougars are 13-0 at home for a reason. But Arizona's balanced attack, elite efficiency on both ends, and sheer depth might be too much for any single environment to overcome. The 163.5 total is fascinating given Arizona's 89.9 PPG average and BYU's recent offensive explosion, and the over has hit in 10 of Arizona's last 15 games. KenPom gives BYU a 40% chance to win with a projected 82-80 final, which lines up closely with the tight 3.5-point spread. This has the feel of a game that comes down to the final possessions. Arizona's poise and experience in tight games should be the difference, but don't be shocked if BYU makes a serious run at the upset.