Duke’s annual Countdown to Craziness gave fans an early look at a roster that already has a few names worth circling, even if the intrasquad scrimmage is only a small sample. The event itself doubled as a recruiting showcase, with 5-star 2027 forward Asa Montgomery taking his official visit to Duke and landing a crystal ball prediction to choose the Blue Devils the next day.
The most noticeable change may have belonged to junior center Patrick Ngongba. He is still listed by Duke at 6'11" and 250 pounds, but he looked leaner and far more mobile, and that could open the door to a much bigger role than he has had so far in Durham.
Ngongba also spent time handling the ball on the perimeter, which hints at a more active passing role than many expected. He raised his assist-per-game average to 2.0 last season, and he may be asked to do even more as a junior.
That possibility makes Ngongba one of the most intriguing players on the roster. His box-score production could climb, but the bigger question is how Duke uses him night to night.
He might have been a first-round pick had he entered the 2026 NBA Draft, yet he chose to return. Health remains the swing factor.
Ngongba has missed 15 games across his first two seasons at Duke, and if he can stay on the floor, he should be one of the team’s biggest difference-makers.
Sophomore Dame Sarr also looked like a player ready to take a clear step forward. The 6'8" wing already has a reputation as one of college basketball’s best defenders, but his offense has been the part holding him back, especially from deep.
As a freshman, he shot 32.3% on 3.5 three-point attempts per game. In this setting, though, it wasn’t just the jumper that stood out.
Sarr attacked downhill, got to the basket quickly and sought contact, showing more than just a perimeter game.
If that growth carries into the season, Sarr could become a regular on the floor because of what he already brings defensively. And if the shot comes around at a steady clip, he could push himself into lottery talk for the 2027 NBA Draft.
Then there’s freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, who looks like the kind of big man Duke fans will be eager to watch from the start. At 7'2" and 250 pounds, he brings an unusual mix of skills for his size: he can pass, handle the ball on the perimeter and work in the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop game. Over the summer, he showed he can knock down threes at solid volume, while also flashing the ball-handling and passing ability that make him more than just a traditional center.
He also fits the modern game on the defensive end, with the ability to switch and the size to rebound and block shots. That combination makes it hard to imagine Jon Scheyer keeping him off the court for long. The 17-year-old looked comfortable right away, and he may be ready to make an immediate impact - possibly even as a starter.
In Other News...
Duke Defense Faces Its Biggest Identity Test Yet At Georgia Tech
A bye week often gives a coaching staff time to sharpen the details, and for Jonathan Patke, Dukes defensive coordinator, it has also meant reinforcing something less tangible: the soul of the unit. The Blue Devils have taken real steps forward on defense this season, sitting near the top nationally in scoring and total defense, and Manny Diaz has pointed to the groups cohesion and its ability to keep opponents from generating easy chunk gains as a major reason.
Georgia Tech brings a different kind of test after making changes on offense, with a new play caller and a new quarterback steering the operation. For Duke, the matchup is less about matching stats than proving its identity holds up when the pictures change, the pace shifts and the game asks the defense to communicate on the fly. The next step for this unit is about whether those improvements still look the same when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Undefeated Duke Faces Another Chance To Prove This Start Is Real
Duke heads into its conference trip to Georgia Tech with an undefeated record and a growing sense that this start is more than a hot spell. Manny Diaz has made clear the Blue Devils know what is waiting in Atlanta, where winning is rarely simple and respect for the opponent is part of the preparation. So far, Duke has leaned on a strong defense and a balanced offense, with transfer quarterback Walker Eget and running back Nate Sheppard helping steady the attack.
Georgia Tech comes in off a bye looking for a reset after a difficult season, and Brent Keys team will try to build around first-year starter Alberto Mendoza. For Duke, the broader question is not just whether it can stay unbeaten, but whether it can keep answering the same test on the road, against a team still searching for traction and a setting that has made this matchup tricky before. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Frontcourt May Hinge On One Underrated Newcomer
Jon Scheyer keeps circling back to Drew Scharnowski as one of the more intriguing pieces in Dukes offseason haul, and not just because the Belmont transfer arrives with a reputation for bringing size and versatility to the frontcourt. The Blue Devils are trying to sort out a rotation that can hold up once games start counting, and Scharnowskis presence was always going to matter because of how he fits with returning big man Patrick Ngongba and the younger forwards trying to earn minutes.
For now, though, Duke is waiting. Scharnowski is dealing with a knee injury and will not be available for the exhibition against Belmont, which at least delays the first look at how the frontcourt might take shape. Scheyer has indicated the two big men could share the floor often, and there is even a path for Scharnowski to push into the starting mix, a development that would not only change the look of Dukes lineup but also ease the pressure on freshmen Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Cameron Williams as they learn on the fly. [Read more 🡒]