Duke Survives Arkansas Scare, Remains Among Elite Title Contenders
No, Duke didn’t win a national championship on Thanksgiving Day. But their gritty win over Arkansas might’ve kept that dream alive. In a back-and-forth battle at the United Center in Chicago, the Blue Devils walked away with more than just a resume-boosting win - they kept themselves on the short list of true national title contenders.
Only nine teams remain unbeaten through Thanksgiving, and if recent history holds, that’s a big deal. Why?
Because each of the last 19 NCAA men’s basketball champions were undefeated at this same point in the season. That’s not just a coincidence - that’s a trend with real weight behind it.
And Duke, thanks to a star-making performance from freshman Cam Boozer, is still part of that exclusive club.
Boozer’s Breakout
Let’s talk about Boozer. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman didn’t just show up - he took over.
After a quiet start that saw him held scoreless for nearly 10 minutes, Boozer erupted for 35 points. Arkansas threw everything they had at him, but the Razorbacks’ bigs simply couldn’t match his combination of power, touch, and poise.
This wasn’t just a good game - it was the kind of performance that separates a talented freshman from a future All-American.
In a matchup that was otherwise neck-and-neck, Boozer was the difference. He controlled the paint, scored in bunches, and made the kind of plays that win high-stakes games in March. It’s early, but this was a statement.
Razorbacks Push Duke to the Limit
Arkansas didn’t come away with the win, but they showed plenty of fight. Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. led the way with 21 points and five assists, flashing the kind of poise and playmaking that Razorback fans should be excited about. Fellow freshman Meleek Thomas added 13 points of his own, giving Arkansas a strong backcourt punch against one of the best teams in the country.
This wasn’t a blowout. The Hogs pushed Duke for 40 minutes and looked every bit like a team capable of making noise come March. But in the end, they couldn’t quite overcome Boozer’s brilliance.
A Flashback to ‘94
The Thanksgiving Day tilt also stirred up memories of a classic - Arkansas’ 1994 national title win over Duke. That game, played in Charlotte just a short drive from Duke’s campus, ended with Scotty Thurman’s iconic shot over the outstretched arm of a Blue Devil defender. Corliss Williamson was the star that day, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors and leading the Hogs to a 31-3 finish under legendary coach Nolan Richardson.
That team opened the season 10-0, stumbled briefly in SEC play, and then caught fire, winning 13 straight before falling to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament semifinals. They bounced back with six straight wins in the NCAA Tournament, capping it with a 76-72 win over Duke in the national title game. A generation later, the echoes of that showdown still linger.
The Stat That Might Matter Most
"It pissed us all off."
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 26, 2023
Nolan Richardson and @RazorbackMBB's "40 Minutes of Hell" mentality led the program to its first national title in 1994 over Duke 🐗
📺 Southern Hoops Episode 5 | Monday 9 PM ET pic.twitter.com/l1ZXd7eLEw
So why is Duke’s win over Arkansas more than just another early-season victory? Because of that eye-popping stat: the last 19 NCAA champions were undefeated through Thanksgiving.
That’s two decades of data pointing in the same direction. If that trend holds, only nine teams are still in the running for the 2025-26 national title:
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Arizona Wildcats
- Duke Blue Devils
- Louisville Cardinals
- Michigan Wolverines
- Michigan State Spartans
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Vanderbilt Commodores
- Indiana Hoosiers
That’s it. According to the numbers, if you’ve taken a loss before carving the turkey, history says you’re not cutting down nets in April.
Arkansas on the Outside Looking In - For Now
Of course, trends aren’t guarantees. Arkansas has dropped two games - both to teams on that list (Duke and Michigan State) - and both were competitive.
So, if you’re John Calipari, you're not throwing in the towel just yet. Teams evolve.
Injuries happen. And March has a way of rewriting scripts.
Still, the numbers don’t lie. Nineteen straight champions followed the same path: clean slate through Thanksgiving. That’s the kind of stat that makes you sit up and take notice.
What’s Next?
There’s a long road between now and April 6, when the national champion will be crowned at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. But if history is any guide, the eventual winner was still unbeaten when the Thanksgiving leftovers hit the fridge.
Duke made sure they stayed in that conversation. Arkansas, meanwhile, showed they’re not far off - and if they keep growing, they might just have something to say when the madness begins.