Duke walked into Allen Fieldhouse and left with a 90-84 exhibition win over No. 17 Kansas, and the most interesting part was how the Blue Devils got there.
After rolling through Belmont and No. 8 Tennessee by huge margins, this was the first game all preseason that made them work.
Kansas pushed, Duke answered, and the Blue Devils found enough in the second half to finish the job.
If there was one player who looked like a future problem for opponents, it was Patrick Ngongba. The junior center put together a monster line: 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks while shooting 9-of-12 from the field, 1-of-2 from three and 9-of-10 at the line.
The 6-foot-11 big man’s offseason body transformation showed up all night. He used his frame and footwork to carve out space around the rim, and when Kansas tried to lean on Duke physically, he kept finding ways to finish anyway.
Ngongba’s impact went beyond scoring. Duke kept attacking switches and mismatches, and he did a strong job creating separation through contact.
Even more impressive was the passing. He continued the step forward he made last season by reading the collapse and kicking the ball out to cutters and shooters on the perimeter.
John Blackwell was the other major bright spot. The Wisconsin transfer scored 23 points on 6-of-12 shooting, hit 4-of-7 from deep and went 7-of-8 at the free-throw line.
What has stood out through the preseason is how little he’s forcing things. Blackwell can get buckets, but he’s letting the game come to him instead of trying to hijack it.
He averaged 13.6 shot attempts per game last season, and he still looks capable of finishing as Duke’s leading scorer this year. The difference is that he’s doing it with movement, cuts and all-around value instead of chasing shots.
The third big takeaway was at the stripe, where Duke showed real progress. Free throws were a problem a season ago, when the Blue Devils ranked 175th nationally in free-throw percentage at 72.9.
Against Kansas, they leaned on that area to pull away. Duke entered halftime down 45-43, then spent the second half forcing action at the rim and getting to the line.
The Blue Devils shot 19 free throws after the break compared to Kansas’ 10, and made 16 of them. For the game, Duke finished 27-of-33 from the line, while Kansas went 18-of-27.
That kind of efficiency matters, especially for a team that also has the pieces to shoot it well from three. For now, though, Duke looks like a group that knows where its best offense lives: at the rim and at the foul line, with enough skill to make defenses pay when they overcommit.
Jon Scheyer’s team now turns to the regular season opener against Army on Nov 2 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
In Other News...
Dukes Overachieving Start Is Being Driven By An Unexpected Group
Dukes strong start has not just been about a few returning faces settling into bigger roles. A surprising core of transfer additions has helped shape the Blue Devils identity on both sides of the ball, with wideout Jonah Burton emerging as the teams leading receiver after stops at Baylor and Idaho State. He has given the passing game a reliable target, while Rutgers transfer CJ Campbell has added balance as a complementary back.
The impact has been just as noticeable in the secondary, where cornerbacks Kyon Loud and Dylan Flowers have become key pieces after arriving from Montana and Western Kentucky. Their presence has helped stabilize a defense that looks more comfortable and more competitive than it did a year ago. For Duke, the story of this fast start keeps circling back to a group that did not arrive together, but has quickly become central to what the team is building. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Just Got Two Weekend Wins Fans Should Feel Good About
Duke picked up a pair of morale-boosting weekend wins, and both came in ways that should leave the fan base feeling encouraged about where things are headed. On the football side, the Blue Devils survived a close one against Virginia by leaning on a late trick play, with Walker Eget finding Nate Sheppard on a double pass before Sheppard hit Brody Keefe for a touchdown that swung the game.
Patrick Smith-Young then finished it off with an interception on Virginias final possession, giving Duke a hard-earned finish in a game that could have gone either way. On the hardwood, the Blue Devils kept the momentum rolling by going on the road and beating Kansas 90-84 in an exhibition, with Patrick Ngongba and John Blackwell leading the way as preseason play wrapped up and the regular season drew near. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Has A Chance To Reclaim Momentum Against Boston College
Duke comes back to Wallace Wade Stadium with a chance to build on its road win over Virginia and steady itself in ACC play. At 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the conference, the Blue Devils are back in a familiar spot: good enough to matter, but still looking for a result that can keep the momentum from slipping. Boston College arrives in the same league lane at 4-3 and 2-2, which gives this matchup a little extra weight beyond an early November-like checkpoint.
Nate Sheppard gives Duke a clear offensive anchor as the Blue Devils try to stack wins and protect their position in the conference race. The running back has been one of the seasons most productive players with 875 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and his workload figures to matter again in a game that could hinge on control and tempo. Kickoff is set for noon ET, and for Duke, this is the kind of home opportunity that can tell you a lot about where the season is headed. [Read more 🡒]