Duke’s loss to Texas Tech wasn’t just a stumble-it was a gut punch. Up by 17 at one point in the world’s most famous arena, the Blue Devils let it all slip away under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, a place often dubbed “Cameron North” for how well Duke typically travels there. Instead of closing out non-conference play with a statement win, they head into ACC action carrying the sting of their first loss of the season.
And the timing couldn’t have been worse. The defeat came just before the team’s longest layoff of the year-11 days without a game.
That’s a long time to sit with a loss, especially one that unraveled so dramatically. But despite the sour note, there’s still a lot to like about where Duke is heading into conference play.
At 11-1, this is a team that’s done more than just survive a complete overhaul of last year’s starting five-they’ve thrived. The Blue Devils didn’t just reload; they reshaped their identity and, in many ways, look even more composed late in games than last year’s Final Four squad.
That’s no small feat when you consider how last season ended. The Cooper Flagg-led team struggled to close, going 1-4 in games decided by six points or fewer.
Their season-ending collapse against Houston in San Antonio still lingers in the program’s collective memory. But this year’s group?
They’ve already been tested in tight moments and passed more often than not-winning two of their first three games decided by two possessions or fewer.
And it’s not like they’ve had a soft schedule to build that record. Duke’s non-conference slate has been a gauntlet, ranked fifth nationally in strength of schedule.
They’ve already faced five teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25. That includes wins over No.
17 Kansas, No. 18 Arkansas, and No.
22 Florida. But the marquee moment of the season so far came on the road, when they walked into the Breslin Center and handed Tom Izzo’s ninth-ranked Michigan State squad a loss.
That’s the kind of win that travels well come March.
At the center of it all is freshman Cameron Boozer, and he’s not just living up to the hype-he’s redefining it. Boozer is leading the nation in scoring with 23.3 points per game and pulling down 10 rebounds to go with it. Those are Player of the Year numbers, plain and simple.
If Boozer keeps this up and ends the season with the National Player of the Year award-as Cooper Flagg did last year-Duke would become the first program in over two decades to produce back-to-back winners. The last time that happened?
Also Duke, with Shane Battier in 2001 and Jay Williams in 2002. That’s the kind of company Boozer is keeping right now.
So yes, the Texas Tech loss stings. But it doesn’t define this team.
Not even close. With ACC play on the horizon and Georgia Tech coming to Cameron Indoor on New Year’s Eve, Duke has a chance to reset, refocus, and remind everyone why they were unbeaten in the first place.