Duke’s preseason debut had a little bit of everything the Blue Devils seem built to lean on this year: size, pace, pressure, and a whole lot of bodies making plays.
That combination was on full display Thursday night inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Jon Scheyer’s fifth Duke team rolled past visiting Belmont, 102-62, in a scrimmage that hinted at the kind of identity this group may settle into even if the individual pecking order is still taking shape.
The tone was set almost immediately. Duke opened with a 13-7 edge in the first four minutes behind a broad attack that included a putback from 17-year-old starting freshman forward/center Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and, shortly after, a made three from the 7-foot-2, 250-pounder. In his first seven minutes as a Blue Devil, Boumtje Boumtje had already put up 10 points and four rebounds, going 4-for-5 from the field and 2-for-3 from deep.
By the middle of the first half, Duke had stretched the margin to 22-12, and the Blue Devils never really let Belmont breathe. Sophomore wing Dame Sarr added his own burst, and he and Boumtje Boumtje each went to the locker room with a game-high 14 points. Senior transfer guard John Blackwell also made his presence felt, finishing the first half with 12 points after drilling a corner three at the buzzer to close out a 10-run.
Scheyer had to work with some missing pieces early, with guard Caleb Foster (ankle) and forward Drew Scharnowski (knee) sidelined for now, but the rotation still ran 10 deep in the first half. That depth helped Duke build a 49-25 halftime lead while shooting 16-for-33 from the field, 5-for-14 from three, and 12-for-13 at the line.
The Blue Devils were also winning the physical game. Before the break, they had the edge on the glass, 22-15, and had piled up nine steals and four blocks against an undersized Belmont group.
Belmont hung around for the first six minutes of the second half, but Duke quickly slammed the door. Starting sophomore guard Cayden Boozer hit a three, then turned that into a steal and a transition dunk that pushed the lead to 30 at 69-39 with 13:27 left. From there, the Blue Devils’ size and pace kept stacking up advantages the Bruins couldn’t keep matching.
By the end, five Duke players had reached double figures: Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje with 19 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks; Dame Sarr with 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals; John Blackwell with 17 points; Cayden Boozer with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block; and freshman guard Deron Rippey Jr. with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Duke’s next preseason test comes Tuesday, Oct. 20, when Tennessee visits Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Update Gives Duke Fans A New Reason To Watch Preseason
Cooper Flagg is already settling into year two with the Dallas Mavericks, and even in the early preseason stretch he is keeping Duke fans plugged into the NBA conversation. The 2025-26 Rookie of the Year recently unveiled the logo for his signature shoe line with New Balance, another sign that his profile keeps rising fast after his first pro season.
Kyrie Irvings situation is the one Blue Devils fans will keep watching most closely as preseason rolls on. His return to the court is still uncertain and will hinge on his physical condition and travel-related factors, which gives Duke supporters another reason to track the exhibition schedule with interest. Cam Boozer has also jumped out early, scoring in double figures in each of his first two preseason games, adding more Duke flavor to a fall full of familiar names. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Faces Its First Real ACC Road Test At Georgia Tech
Dukes early progress is about to meet a different kind of exam. After opening conference play with a win, the Blue Devils head to Georgia Tech for their first ACC road game, a setting that should say plenty about how far this group has come through its first four contests. The offense has found a steady rhythm around running back Nate Sheppard, while the defense has given the team a firm base to build on.
Georgia Tech brings the sort of challenge that can expose whether improvement has really taken hold, especially away from home. Duke has been strong in the second half of games and has carried momentum from week to week, but the next step is proving that same formula travels in conference play. For a team trying to establish itself in the ACC, this is the kind of road test that starts to separate a good opening from something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Faces One Big Test As Jon Scheyer Reloads Again
Jon Scheyer is heading into his fifth season with Duke, and the program hardly looks like it needs a reboot. The Blue Devils have gone 70-7 over the past two seasons, stacked three straight Elite Eight runs and reached the Final Four in 2025, all while Scheyer has kept the standard at a level that feels familiar for Durham.
The challenge now is that the next version has to prove itself almost immediately. Dukes roster mix is tilted toward continuity, with four of last seasons top six scorers back and nine newcomers joining the fold, but the schedule is loaded with high-end tests and the margin for another deep March run may be thinner than it has looked in recent years. [Read more 🡒]