Duke: guard Tyler Thornton
The senior guard has been on a roll lately for the Blue Devils. Against then-No. 2 Syracuse, Thornton hit back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to keep Duke in the game and allow his team a chance at a victory in overtime. Thornton followed that up with a three-steal, five-assist performance against Wake Forest on Tuesday. Today, Duke needs Thornton to play his patented hard-nosed defense, as he will likely see plenty of reigning ACC Rookie of the Year Olivier Hanlan—the Eagles' leading scorer at 17.7 points per game. Thornton's other vital role this game is to keep the Blue Devils cool, calm and collected in a hostile environment. Last season No. 4 Duke just barely eked out a 62-61 win at Boston College, and it's Thornton's job as a senior captain to make sure the game isn't as close this time around.
Boston College: guard Lonnie Jackson
Jackson has been on a tear of late. The junior guard from Valencia, Calif., is averaging 13.3 points per game in his past seven contests, shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 55.8 percent from beyond the arc. The marksman shooter has emerged as a legitimate third scoring option behind Hanlan and Ryan Anderson. To stand a chance against Duke, the Eagles need Jackson to play his A-game and make a lesser defender keep up with him while the Blue Devils' top defensive options try to contain Hanlan and Anderson. Jackson's already proven this season that he can handle tough defenses, dropping 18 points against Syracuse and scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting on the road against No. 20 Virginia earlier this week.
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