It’s the game that Elon University fans have had circled on their calendars since the release of the men’s basketball schedule in September.

This Tuesday, Dec. 31, the Phoenix will play host to No. 9 Duke University at the Greensboro Coliseum. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPNU. While not being played inside Alumni Gym on campus, it is technically a home game for Elon which traveled to Durham a year ago.

That game, which was played when the Blue Devils were ranked first in the nation, was close for much of the first half. Duke led, 35-27, at halftime, but ensued on a 15-3 run early in the second half to break it open and cruise to a 76-54 win.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaP0eBY7UCE

This year, the Blue Devils are off to a 10-2 start while the Phoenix is 7-6. The teams have one common opponent -- Florida Atlantic University. Elon held off a late Owl rally for a 67-62 win in its last game, while Duke flattened FAU by a 97-64 score on Nov. 15.

With a team that has been picked to win the Southern Conference and proclaimed to be one of the best in school history, anything less than competing down the stretch will be a letdown for Elon. The Phoenix proved it can hang in there with the big boys, taking BIG EAST power Georgetown University to the wire before falling, 85-76. But, Duke will be the biggest challenge that Matt Matheny’s team has faced thus far and pending possible postseason opponents, the toughest one it will go up against this season.

That being said, this could go down as the biggest win in program history should the Phoenix pull the upset. Let’s take a look at the keys for each team.

Keys for Elon

1. Contain Jabari Parker

Parker, a 6-8, 235lb freshman, has put the national spotlight on himself by essentially taking over the Blue Devils team. He leads Duke with 22.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 1.3 blocks per game. He’s recorded feats in Durham that college basketball legends have accomplished, and he’s only 12 games into his career that will presumably end when he declares for the NBA Draft in the spring. Nonetheless, Parker is the gasoline that fuels the Blue Devils. His size has been problematic for defenses because of his ability to handle the ball well on the perimeter (46.5 percent from three-point range) but also take it inside. If Elon wants to have a chance, they’ll need to limit Parker and probably hold him under 20 points – something that has only been done twice this year.

2. Force Duke into taking difficult shots

The Blue Devils are known for their ability to shoot the basketball and shoot it well, and that’s the story once again this year. They rank ninth nationally in field goal percentage (50.4 percent) and 14th in points per game (85.2). Elon has allowed four opponents to shoot better than 50 percent from the field and has given up at least 80 points five times. Against this Duke team, neither is an option. Similar to the Phoenix, the Blue Devils can live and die by the three-pointer at times. Opponents are shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range against Elon, though, so that area is a bit hazy for the Phoenix. But, the Blue Devils do not overpower teams underneath, which is also similar to Elon. Seven-footer Marshall Plumlee is Duke’s tallest player, but he averages less than a point per game. Elon will be able to compete underneath, but making sure the Blue Devil guards are on their toes is most critical.

MORE: Elon looks to improve defense and rebounding for big games

3. Don’t get lost in the moment

Playing a team with the prestige and history of Duke on New Year’s Eve in front of a national television audience can be intimidating. This is one of the last opportunities for Elon to show the entire country what it’s made of before the postseason. The Phoenix must come in focused and ready to play, knowing how important this game is. But at the same time, Elon cannot find itself so in awe of the game that it loses track of what is at stake. Keeping their heads on straight throughout will be vital to how well the Phoenix plays.

 Keys for Duke

1. Get off to a quick start

As stated before, Elon hung around for much of the first half when these two teams met a year ago. Nearly all of that Phoenix team returns this year, so they remember that game vividly. If the Blue Devils can break the game open early, the confidence of Elon would decrease dramatically. Duke has the offensive weapons to do this, but has struggled to do so recently. In its most recent game, Duke only led Eastern Michigan University by eight points with 15 minutes remaining in the second half. The Phoenix proved against Georgetown that if you let them stay in the game long enough, they’ll make you pay for it. Duke cannot afford a setback in its final game before Atlantic Coast Conference play.

2. Get everyone involved

Parker may lead the Blue Devils, but redshirt-sophomore forward Rodney Hood and junior guard Quinn Cook have also proven that they can carry the team when needed. Hood (17.6 points per game) is a transfer from Mississippi State University, and has made a splash after sitting out last season due to NCAA rules. He was voted team captain at the start of the year, and has not disappointed. He along with Cook (13.7 points per game, 6.5 assists per game) help to facilitate the offense. Cook’s team-high in assists shows that he has the unselfish ability to generate flow at the offensive end. Elon will most likely be focusing on how to control Parker in the post, so if Cook can find guys like Hood and graduate student guard Andre Dawkins, the Blue Devils should be able to score without trouble.

MORE: Check out an inside-look at Duke’s season thus far

3. Rebound and force Elon bigs into foul trouble

This goes along with the previous key as well. Both teams average about the same number of rebounds per game, and neither is known for overwhelming teams on the glass. With that being said, it might be a nice game for Duke to get guys like senior forward Josh Hairston (14.5 minutes per game) and sophomore forward Amile Jefferson (16.3 minutes per game) a little more playing time. Elon senior forwards Lucas Troutman and Ryley Beaumont man the blocks for much of the game with junior forward Ryan Winters working his way back from an injury. Beaumont, specifically, has been in foul trouble in nearly every game so far this year. With that being said, if Duke can force Elon to make some dumb fouls early, the Blue Devils will gain an advantage underneath. This will also give Duke the chance to cycle posts in and out to keep everyone fresh which would tire down Elon very quickly. The Blue Devils will have to capitalize, though, by getting third and fourth chances underneath.

https://twitter.com/elonphoenix/status/417354336138563586

Prediction

If Duke exploits Elon’s flaws on defense, this one is over quick. The Phoenix has enough to compete with the Blue Devils, but not enough to claw back if the deficit gets too large. But also, the Phoenix will struggle at times not only to control Parker, but to contain all of the explosive Duke offense. Look for Elon to come out motivated, but also for Duke to showcase why it is ranked ninth in the nation.

Duke 93, Elon 66

 

If you're not near a television on Tuesday for the game, keep in touch with the updates by following Pendulum Sports (@pendulumsports) on Twitter.