The Duke Blue Devils enter this matchup as one of the nation’s most complete and disciplined early-season units, combining offensive balance, defensive structure, and roster depth in a way that makes them an especially difficult opponent for a fast-paced Arkansas team that thrives on volatility, transition scoring, and emotional momentum, and Duke’s undefeated 7-0 start reflects not only talent but an identity built on consistency that travels well in neutral-site environments like the United Center. The hallmark of this Duke team is balance — their scoring distribution reaches across multiple contributors, allowing them to generate offense through ball movement, spacing, and intelligent decision-making rather than relying on isolations or single-star output, and this shared responsibility produces a sustainable rhythm that holds up against pressure, traps, or defensive variations. Their offensive efficiency stems from quality shot selection, crisp passing, and the ability to score at all three levels, forcing defenses to choose between protecting the paint or contesting perimeter shooters, often resulting in mismatches or late closeouts that Duke exploits with patience and poise. Defensively, Duke has been exceptional in the early season, allowing opponents barely more than 57 points a night through disciplined rotations, strong communication, and consistent rebounding fundamentals that limit second-chance opportunities and force opponents into inefficient, contested attempts; this defensive reliability becomes especially valuable against Arkansas, whose offense depends heavily on momentum, driving lanes, and transition opportunities that can be neutralized by good floor balance, ball security, and rebound control. Duke’s frontcourt, underscored by size, footwork, and physicality, gives them a clear advantage on the glass, positioning them to win possession battles, slow Arkansas’s pace, and force the Razorbacks into half-court offense where their shot creation becomes more inconsistent and their efficiency drops.

Duke’s depth is another major advantage, providing fresh legs, lineup flexibility, and matchup adaptability that allow them to sustain their defensive intensity and offensive precision across 40 minutes, especially crucial in tournament-style settings where fatigue can drastically shift momentum. Strategically, Duke’s top priority will be controlling tempo — avoiding rushed possessions, minimizing turnovers, and funneling Arkansas into slower, more deliberate sequences while picking apart the Razorbacks’ defense with methodical execution; if Duke controls the pace, they not only limit Arkansas’s strengths but also maximize their own ability to impose structure and discipline. The Blue Devils must also remain prepared for Arkansas’s inevitable scoring runs, maintaining composure and avoiding reactive mistakes that feed the Razorbacks’ transition game, and their strong early-season performances suggest the poise to respond effectively. From a betting perspective, Duke being favored by double digits reflects belief in their consistency, depth, and ability to dictate pace, and those attributes indeed give them a legitimate path to controlling the matchup from opening tip to final horn. If Duke stays true to its identity — disciplined defense, balanced scoring, strong rebounding, and patient half-court execution — the Blue Devils are well-positioned to deliver a performance that affirms their top-tier status and potentially allows them to separate late against an Arkansas team that thrives on chaos but may struggle to sustain efficiency if denied its preferred transition-oriented rhythm.