The Duke basketball team will open its ACC slate coming off its first loss of the season and a 12-day layoff to stew on that defeat. Because of these facts — and the scheduled competition on tap this week — you should expect an inspired Blue Devils squad to race out of the conference gates. 

First up, Georgia Tech (8-4) will visit Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. Led by third-year coach Damon Stoudamire, the Yellow Jackets are off to a less than stellar start to the season

To illustrate this, look no further than the ssorting tool the NCAA Tournament selection committee uses: the NET rankings. Georgia Tech currently rank 190th in the NET, which is just one spot better than Boston College for the worst ranking out of the ACC's 18 programs.

Up until this point, the Jackets are 0-3 against high-major competition. Plus they endured a double-figure loss to Drake in the Emerald Coast Classic in Florida.

Following Wednesday's date at Cameron, Duke will then travel to Tallahassee for a Saturday afternoon tilt at Florida State (7-6).

Even though the Seminoles possess a winning record, it is 0-5 against high-major competition and lost to UMass this season. However, the team's struggles go well beyond record.

FSU currently ranks 129th in the NET, which places 16th — right in front of Georgia Tech — in the ACC rankings. It is also dead last in the ACC in scoring defense by allowing an average of 78.3 points. Conversely, Duke leads the league in that category at 62.6 opposing points per game.

The Seminoles are head-manned by first-year coach and former player Luke Loucks. He takes over after Leonard Hamilton spent 23 years leading the program.

To put Hamilton's tenure in perspective, the last time Duke faced FSU without "Coach Ham" on the sideline was Feb. 7, 2002. Carlos Boozer played for the Blue Devils that night. Nearly 24 years later, Boozer's twin sons will be dressing for his alma mater against the Seminoles.

Duke's New Years Eve clash with Georgia Tech is scheduled for 4 p.m., while Saturday's trip to Tallahassee will begin at 3:45 p.m.