Duke’s preseason tune-up is shaping up like a real test, not a warmup.
The Blue Devils announced a three-game exhibition slate for the upcoming preseason, and it comes with plenty of weight behind it. Duke will face Belmont on October 8, Tennessee on October 20, and then finish the stretch on the road against Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse on October 25.
That’s a heavy lift before the games even start counting.
For Jon Scheyer’s group, the timing matters. Duke is coming off a disappointing loss to UConn and heads toward the 2026-27 season with a roster that looks different after losing Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans and Maliq Brown to the NBA.
Still, the cupboard is far from bare. Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II are back, and the Blue Devils also bring in the top recruiting class along with a solid transfer portal haul.
The exhibition schedule only adds to the sense that Duke won’t get much of a soft landing. The non-conference slate is already considered tough, and now the preseason will demand attention too.
The matchup with Kansas stands out immediately. Duke and Kansas have called the October meeting the “Blue Blood Classic,” and it lands on the same weekend as football homecoming. As part of the arrangement, Kansas is also set to visit Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in October of 2027.
There’s some history baked into that one, too. Duke and Kansas haven’t played in Allen Fieldhouse or Cameron Indoor Stadium since the 1980s. Duke owns a 9-7 edge all-time, though Kansas has had the better of it in the Bill Self era, going 5-3 against the Blue Devils.
Preseason exhibitions have replaced the old secret scrimmages, and this version gives fans a chance to see top programs go at it in public. For Duke, it also means three chances to get tested early - and one especially loud finish in Lawrence.
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There was already at least one notable flirtation in the past, with the Mavericks showing interest before going in another direction. Even so, the broader point remains the same for Duke fans: Scheyers profile is only growing, and if the NBA starts shopping for another young coach with credibility on both levels, his phone figure to ring again. [Read more 🡒]