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Durham, N.C. • Moments after Utah State's 81-55 win over Utah Valley on Tuesday night, junior forward Jalen Moore was asked if he knew who the Aggies played next.
"Uh, I forgot," he said, before breaking into a wide grin.
Moore didn't forget, of course, because Utah State's next opponent is Duke.
As in coach Mike Krzyzewski's reigning national champions, who get almost as much TV time as the Kardashians.
The Aggies, who are 4-0 under first-year coach Tim Duryea, play the sixth-ranked Blue Devils on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the college basketball cathedral known as Cameron Indoor Stadium.
If Utah State gets to 5-0, it will be one of the greatest victories in program history.
"It's definitely awesome," Moore said. "You're always seeing them play on TV. You're like, 'That would be an awesome place to play.' So my reaction [is], it's awesome our coaches got that together for us. …
"I feel like it's a dream-come-true for a basketball player to be able to play in a place like that against Coach K. I'm definitely looking forward to it. Hopefully, the coaches will get us ready so we can compete. I think they will."
In Utah State's win over Utah Valley, the Wolverines were missing two starters because of injury. Looking ahead to Duke, Duryea smiled and said, "We face a team next that's definitely not undermanned. They will be at full strength."
Duryea, who started his college coaching career in 1988, has never faced the Blue Devils.
"That's one of the places I've never been," he said. "But it's a great trip for our guys. I think everybody is looking forward to it. You're playing the team that sets the gold standard for how hard you have to play to compete at this level. I'm excited to see how our guys respond to that."
Utah State is 2-7 all-time against current Atlantic Coast Conference teams. Its last game against an ACC member was a 60-58 loss at Florida State in the 1997-98 season.
This is the second time USU has faced a defending national champion. In the opening round of the 2000 NCAA tournament, the Aggies lost to UConn, 75-67.
"The main thing is we have to rebound with them," Moore said. "We have confidence we can play with them — that we can guard them and that we can make them guard us. But the main thing is rebounding. [With] all their big guys, we'll have to put some bodies on them and rebound because, if we don't, it will be a long game."
Duke is 5-1 so far, with the only loss coming against Kentucky at the United Center in Chicago, 74-63.
The Blue Devils are coming off an 80-61 victory over Army, which led most of the first half but crumbled when Krzyzewski switched to a 1-3-1 zone.
Considering the Aggies have struggled to make 3-pointers this season — they're 27 for 87 — Duke will probably see what Utah State can do against its zone, too.
"We'll get better playing them," Duryea said. "I'm sure of that."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Utah State at Duke
P At Cameron Indoor Stadium
Tipoff • 10:30 a.m. MST
TV • ESPNU
Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9 FM, 102.1 FM
Records • Utah State 4-0, Duke 5-1
Series • First meeting
About the Aggies • They are trying to start 5-0 for the fourth time in the past 15 seasons. … They come off an 81-55 win over Utah Valley. … They are led by senior G Chris Smith (16.8), junior F Jalen Moore (13.3) and junior F Lew Evans (11.3). … Moore has reached double-figures in 14 of his last 15 games, and 31 of the past 33.
About the Blue Devils • They are 97-4 at home since 2010. … They have been ranked in the Associated Press poll for 158 straight weeks, the seventh longest streak in NCAA history. … They are led by sophomore G Grayson Allen (22.7) and junior G Matt Jones (13.8). … Senior F Amile Jefferson averages 11.5 points and 10.1 rebounds.