Duke’s full schedule is out now so we can get a better idea of what the Blue Devils will face this season.
The Devils start with two great exhibition games: Tennessee at Tennessee and then Johnny Dawkins brings UCF to Cameron for the first Brotherhood game of the season.
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Texas in Charlotte will be next, then has three less challenging games with Western Carolina at home, followed by Army up there and Indiana State in Cameron.
Army is interesting because it’s at West Point and the gym is smallish, seating just over 5,000, and there aren’t really any bad seats. That is a huge advantage in a game like this.
After that, Duke gets Kansas in the Garden in the Champions Classic, then returns home to welcome Greg Paulus and Niagara for a Brotherhood Run on Friday, November 21st. Howard comes in on the 23rd, and Kenny Blakeney’s Bisons will finish the Brotherhood Run.
Then it’s time to renew acquaintances with John Calipari as the Devils get Arkansas in Jon Scheyer’s hometown of Chicago on Thanksgiving night.
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A second SEC matchup follows a few days later as defending national champions Florida come to Cameron, including 7-9 redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux. His vertical is just 11”, but how much do you need when you’re 7-9? He didn’t need the ladder to cut the nets in April! Just seeing a guy that tall will be amazing.
Then the tough stretch concludes with a trip to Lansing to take on Michigan State.
Following that, it’s back home for Lipscomb as exams loom, then a tough Texas Tech team in the Garden after that.
ACC play begins on December 30th as the Yellow Jackets come calling, then Duke is off to Tally to face the new-look Florida State. Who knows what to expect there?
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But we have a good idea what to expect at Louisville. That’s going to be tough.
After that, SMU makes its Cameron debut as an ACC team before the West Coast swing. Last year we said it was an advantage to go out there in the first year. Cal and Stanford were both competitive last year and we know how fan bases love to get Duke in the house, plus they have scores to settle. Be wary.
Wake and Louisville come to Cameron next, followed by a road trip to what appears to be a much improved Virginia Tech’s Cassell, a place that has given Duke fits in recent years.
BC is in the house after that, followed by the first game against UNC.
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Duke journeys to Pitt following that and Jeff Capel’s teams usually defend hard. Clemson certainly does and they’ll be in Cameron a few days after that.
Syracuse is in after that then Duke takes on Michigan in D.C. for the traditional late-season out of conference game/evaluation.
Then it’s off to South Bend to see what Notre Dame has built and then back home for a first tase of Ryan Odom’s Virginia.
NC State in Raleigh is going to be really interesting. Will Wade has put together a solid roster and he clearly can coach.
After that, Duke closes out with the traditional game against UNC.
Leaving the ACC aside for now, there are seven teams here that have legit post-season chances. It’s not going to be easy, but give Scheyer credit for putting together a top-level schedule.
