Duke had a busy Thursday, and the biggest headline came from Cameron Indoor, where the Blue Devils put Coastal Carolina away in emphatic fashion, 113-52.
Patrick Ngongba turned in a career night with 28 points, while Cayden Boozer piled up a double-double of 11 points and 12 assists as Duke rolled past the Chanticleers. After some offensive hiccups in Monday’s season-opener against Army, the Blue Devils looked far more in sync this time around. They shot 61% from the field, knocked down 11 of 22 from beyond the arc, and finished with 25 assists on 38 made baskets.
John Blackwell answered a rough debut with a much cleaner performance, scoring 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Dame Sarr kept his early-season efficiency rolling as well, finishing with 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 night. Through two games, he’s 9-for-9 from the field.
Duke’s defense was just as imposing. Coastal Carolina managed a late push once the backups and walk-ons were on the floor, but the overall numbers tell the story: the Chanticleers shot 30% from the field and 18% from three, while Duke forced 17 turnovers and controlled the glass 53-27.
The Blue Devils are now 2-0 after back-to-back buy games, but the schedule stiffens quickly. Next Tuesday, Jon Scheyer and Duke head to Chicago for a matchup with Michigan State in what will be the season’s first real test.
Thursday also brought a football spotlight for Nate Sheppard, as Duke officially launched a Heisman Trophy campaign for the sophomore running back. The school pushed the message with “All Aboard the #NateTrain 🚂 @HeismanTrophy” and Sheppard’s production gives the push plenty of substance. He leads the Power Four in touchdowns, all-purpose yards, and all-purpose yards per game.
Sheppard has been the engine of Duke’s offense. He has rushed for 972 yards at 5.6 yards per carry and added 302 receiving yards with four touchdown catches, all while drawing top billing on opposing defensive gameplans every week.
The Heisman case may be a tough sell without Duke in the College Football Playoff conversation, but the Blue Devils are making sure their star gets the attention his season has earned.
On the soccer side, Duke’s men’s team battled No. 3 Clemson in the opening round of the ACC Championship but came up short, 2-1.
Clemson built a 2-0 lead before Nikolai Bull Jorgensen pulled Duke within one in the 55th minute. The comeback bid fell short, but it was still a competitive showing against one of the league’s top teams.
The women’s team closed the regular season with a 0-0 draw against Virginia, a frustrating result given Duke’s 21-9 edge in shot attempts.
In Other News...
Jon Scheyer Sent A Clear Message To Duke Freshman In Blowout Win
Jon Scheyer has made it clear all season that Dukes freshmen are going to be coached hard, and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje got a reminder of that in a blowout win. After a turnover and a missed dunk attempt turned into an opponents transition basket, Scheyer called him over for a timeout and sent him to the bench, a small moment that fit the standard the Blue Devils have been talking about since the season began.
Even with that brief correction, Scheyer has been encouraged by Boumtje Boumtjes early progress. The freshman has already shown he can help in meaningful minutes, especially on the defensive end, and Scheyer has pointed to his coachability as a reason for optimism. For Duke, the bigger picture is less about one mistake in a lopsided game and more about how quickly a young player is absorbing the demands that come with wearing the jersey. [Read more 🡒]
Manny Diaz Rumors Put Duke Stability Back In The Spotlight
Florida States decision to move on from Mike Norvell immediately sent a ripple through the coaching carousel, and Manny Diaz found himself back in the conversation almost by default. For Duke, it is the kind of outside noise that can arrive quickly around a coach who has already helped steady the program and draw attention with a strong run, even as the Blue Devils continue to focus on their own footing in the ACC.
Diaz has already addressed the speculation and made clear he is happy at Duke, which is exactly the sort of reassurance the program wants to hear when another job opens up in the region. The timing also lands in a conference landscape where NC State has been through its own recent football changes and uneven results, a reminder that stability is a valuable commodity right now and one Duke would prefer not to lose. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Dominant Night Put One Blue Devils Debate Front And Center
Patrick Ngongba II gave Duke exactly the kind of interior lift the Blue Devils have been looking for, pouring in 28 points and pulling down 9 rebounds in a 113-52 win over Coastal Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke controlled the game from the start, shot 61% from the field and overwhelmed the Chanticleers on the glass, turning what could have been a routine nonconference night into a showcase for its size and efficiency.
The margin was never in doubt, but the performance did sharpen a bigger conversation around this team: how much more Duke can get from Ngongba II if he keeps producing like this. Coastal Carolina had little answer, with Trey Perry leading the visitors with 14 points as the Chanticleers battled shooting issues and turnovers, while Duke kept piling on and leaving plenty for the staff and fan base to consider moving forward. [Read more 🡒]