Latest news and updates about the Duke
Thursday's college basketball schedule includes Duke, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan State and Vanderbilt. See the top games, tipoff times and TV information for November 5.
The DBR Podcast preview looks ahead to a busy weekend of Duke basketball and football. On the hardwood, Duke faces Coastal Carolina, led by former Wake Forest star Justin Gray, in what co‑hosts expect to be a tougher test than the recent Army game, with hopes that John Blackwell will step up. On the gridiron, the Wolfpack, fresh off a coaching change and a strong win over Cal, travel to Raleigh to clash with Duke. The episode ends with an eye‑popping analysis of Cameron Boozer’s rapid NBA adjustment, drawing surprising player comparisons.
No. 2 Duke returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium to host Coastal Carolina on Thursday.
Senior Riley Nelson and junior Arianna Roberson both scored a team-high 15 points to lead the fourth-ranked Duke women's basketball team to a season-opening 76-60 victory over Green Bay inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje scored 15 points in an 84–50 win over Army. Here's why his debut deserves attention.
ESPN honored late college basketball analyst Chris Spatola during the halftime of Duke’s season‑opening 78‑71 win over Army on Nov. 2. A 70‑second tribute video aired, followed by Dave O’Brien and Jay Bilas speaking about Spatola’s impact as a decorated Army veteran, former West Point star, Duke operations director, and ESPN commentator. They highlighted his marriage to Coach K’s daughter Jamie, his humility, and his surviving wife and three children. The heartfelt segment underscored his sudden death on Sept. 21 at age 47.
The Duke Basketball Report explores why turnovers aren’t always a negative, highlighting ACC players who turn the ball over more often than they assist. The piece cites Len Bias’s 1986 season (89 turnovers, 33 assists) as a historic example and examines this year’s top scorers Malik Reneau (Miami, 99 turnovers, 72 assists, 18.9 ppg) and Thijs De Ridder (Virginia, 15.6 ppg). It notes that Boston College, Georgia Tech and Syracuse, which each had several turnover‑prone regulars, have new coaching staffs, while Duke, Virginia and UNC boast zero players with a turnover‑assist deficit and rank among the league’s best in ball security. The article uses stats tables to compare turnover‑heavy players across the ACC.
Freshman Deron Rippey electrified Duke’s game against Army on Nov. 2, 2026 with a jaw‑dropping dunk after chasing down a missed shot. The 6‑3 rookie, who earlier shot 9‑12 versus Tennessee, showcased raw athleticism that left Army’s Drew Timmons and Tate Laczkowski visibly stunned. The play, highlighted in a viral video shared by Duke Men’s Basketball, underscores Rippey’s emerging elite talent at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke dominates Army 84-50 in its season opener, reinforcing its No. 1 preseason ranking. Coach Jon Scheyer confirms former Blue Devil Rodney Hood has returned to Duke in an intern coaching capacity, after a brief NBA and G‑League career. Hood, a 2013‑14 All‑ACC star, previously assisted the staff during his own playing stint. The Devils struggled from deep, shooting just 4‑of‑22 on 3‑pointers, with senior Caleb Foster going 0‑of‑3 after an injury. Duke next hosts Coastal Carolina on Thursday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The No. 2 Duke men's basketball team tipped off the 2026-27 season with a 84-50 victory over Army West Point on Monday night.
Duke (ranked No. 2) opens its 2026‑27 men’s basketball season against Army on Monday, Nov. 2 at 6:30 PM ET. The game airs on ESPN U and streams for free on Fubo. Duke arrives after a 35‑3 campaign and Elite Eight run, returning stars like Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr and newcomer John Blackwell. Army, now in its fourth year under coach Kevin Kuwik, brings back four starters including senior guard Ryan Curry after an 11‑21 finish last season and a 114‑59 loss to Duke last November. Fans can catch the matchup live via cable or the Fubo app.
Duke Opens Season Tuesday with Green Bay
Duke and Miami's November 14 game will kick at 12 noon on ABC.
Duke (No. 2) opens its season at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Monday against the Army Black Knights, a matchup steeped in respect thanks to former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s West Point roots. Army, coming off an 11‑21 season, is led by senior guard Ryan Curry (13.3 ppg, 4.5 ap) and coached by Kevin Kuwik, who brings a résumé that includes stints with Tim O’Shea, Brad Stevens and others. While Duke boasts a clear advantage in size and talent—players like Pat Ngongba, JoJo Boumtje Boumtje and Drew Scharnowski—West Point’s continuity and discipline could spark an upset. The preview highlights key Army contributors and notes the significance of the historic, albeit rarely played, rivalry.
Clemson aims for a fourth straight NCAA tournament amid a rare 76‑team field, relying on coach Brad Brownell’s knack for maximizing non‑elite talent. After key injuries to Dillon Hunter and Carter Welling, the Tigers have leaned on transfers like Marcquise Reed, Shelton Mitchell, Elijah Thomas and newcomers Faulkur (guard/forward) and Cole Certa to boost a defense‑first identity with a more balanced offense. Guard Ace Buckner and forward Faulkur anchor the high/low post system, while Certa adds shooting depth. Brownell’s track record includes the only ACC win over Duke in 2024‑25 and historic victories at Chapel Hill, positioning Clemson as a surprise contender despite limited NBA prospects.
In DBR Podcast #867, Jason and Donald break down Duke’s season opener against Army, a rematch of last year’s 114‑point blowout. They spotlight Head Coach Jon Scheyer’s rotating lineups and discuss whether Duke can repeat the offensive fireworks while eyeing another ACC title run. The episode also recaps a recent Boston College football game featuring a record performance by Nate Train and a stout Duke defense. Listeners are informed about a charity auction for the Wunderglow Gala and a 30%‑plus‑15% discount at Slam Magazine’s online shop.
The Game Haus outlines its 2026 college basketball conference champion forecasts as the season looms, highlighting key picks such as Duke winning the ACC, Arizona taking the Big 12, UConn the Big East, Illinois the Big Ten, and Gonzaga the Pac‑12. The list spans every Division I league, from Vermont in America East to Santa Clara in the West Coast, offering a quick reference for fans tracking which teams must win their tournaments to secure NCAA bids.
The Game Haus releases its preseason 2027 NCAA Tournament bracketology, outlining key dates and seed predictions. The Opening Round kicks off March 16‑17, with the Final Four set for April 3 and the championship on April 5, 2027. No. 1 seeds are Duke, Florida, Illinois and UConn, while the First Four Out include Georgia, Oklahoma State, Providence and Creighton. The list details seeds from 1 through 16, highlighting potential early exits and match‑ups for fans planning their March Madness brackets.
The Game Haus releases its projected 2026‑27 preseason All‑ACC basketball teams, listing three guards and two forwards per squad. Duke leads with John Blackwell (G) on First Team and two forwards, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Patrick Ngongba, on Second Team. Louisville also features heavily, with Jackson Shelstead and Flory Bidunga on First Team and Seth Trimble on Second. Other notable picks include North Carolina’s Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia’s Shelton Henderson and Chance Mallory, and Miami’s Malik Reneau. The rollout previews the top talent expected to shape the ACC this season.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas previews the 2026‑27 college basketball season, praising Duke as the nation’s most talented squad and noting their depth, size and versatile guards after impressive exhibition wins over Kansas and Tennessee. He ranks Florida No. 1 in the preseason AP and Coaches polls, highlighting their elite frontcourt and veteran core, and points to the Miami‑Florida opener as a key Week 1 matchup. Bilas also stresses the importance of a strong start for Kentucky, lauds freshmen like Caleb Holt (Arizona) and Tyran Stokes (Kansas), and offers insights on Arizona’s roster outlook. The interview, edited for clarity, airs as Bilas calls Duke’s season on Monday against Army.
Indiana guard Darren Harris, a former Duke transfer and 4‑star 2024 recruit, steps into the Hoosiers’ starting shooting‑guard role as the team’s primary 3‑point threat for the 2026‑27 season. After limited minutes at Duke, Harris aims to prove his deep‑range accuracy and expand his game beyond shooting, including rebounding and playmaking, under coach Darian DeVries. The Hoosiers, fresh off a 96‑68 preseason win over Butler, rely on Harris to fill the void left by last year’s prolific scorer Lamar Wilkerson.
Duke Caps Regular Season with Top-10 Tilt Versus North Carolina
After capturing the 2025 national title, the Florida Gators enter the 2026 season as the SEC's top contender under coach Todd Golden. Despite a rocky start—four losses in nine games, including defeats to Arizona, Duke, UConn, and TCU—the Gators rebounded, stringing together a 5‑game win streak, a brief loss to Auburn, then an 11‑game run that earned them a No. 1 seed before a second‑round exit to Iowa. Returning roughly 80% of their production, key players like Thomas Hazzard, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu remain, while Golden’s analytics‑driven recruiting continues to impress. The preview predicts Florida to finish first in the SEC and second overall nationally.
The Duke Basketball Report breaks down how ACC schools craft their 2026‑27 non‑conference slates, balancing tournament bids, TV exposure, rivalries and coach security. Duke tops the conference with eight power‑conference matchups, hosting Illinois, playing UConn in Las Vegas, meeting Georgia and Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden, and traveling to face Gonzaga in Detroit and Michigan State in Chicago. Clemson, Louisville, Pitt and others schedule seven such tests. The piece also highlights multi‑team events like the Players Era 8 Tournament and the Southwest Maui Invitational, showing how ACC teams weigh prestige and revenue when building their schedules.
Duke men's basketball lands 6‑foot‑7, 5‑star small forward Asa Montgomery for the 2027 class, marking a major recruiting win. The Georgia native, a FIBA U17 World Cup gold‑medalist, praised Coach Jon Scheyer and called Duke his “dream school” since age eight. Montgomery, compared to Dame Sarr, joins fellow freshmen Kager Knueppel and Luke Paul as Scheyer builds a deep, top‑10 recruiting class.