Duke’s preseason run did more than just pad the win column. It gave a clear early look at which players are climbing, which ones are still finding their footing, and how deep this Blue Devils roster might really be as the 2026-27 season approaches.
That season opens Nov. 2 against Army at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Duke comes into it off a preseason stretch that looked dominant from start to finish. The Blue Devils beat Belmont by 40, crushed No.
8 Tennessee by 39, then went on the road and edged No. 17 Kansas in Lawrence, 90-84.
Across those three games, the main takeaway was simple: there’s not much to nitpick. But there were still clear winners and a few players whose roles remain unsettled.
Dame Sarr stood out as the biggest mover of the bunch. The sophomore wing has been talked about all offseason as a possible 3-and-D breakout, but preseason play showed a broader leap than that.
He finished the three games 12-of-24 from the field, 3-of-11 from three and 19-of-24 at the line, and the numbers tell the story of a player who is not leaning on the jumper to make an impact. Instead, he’s hunting the rim, drawing contact and making defenders deal with his size and aggression.
After averaging just 1.6 free-throw attempts per game as a rookie and hitting only 53.2% of them, he’s getting to the stripe much more often and converting. He already brings elite on-ball defense, and if this preseason is any indication, he may be Duke’s most complete player.
Cayden Boozer also came out of preseason looking far more comfortable than a sophomore in a temporary starting role might usually be. With Caleb Foster sidelined for most of the exhibition slate because of an ankle injury, Boozer stepped in as the full-time point guard and handled it like a veteran.
He wasn’t hunting his own shot, which is exactly what Duke needed. Against Tennessee, he took only one shot and still finished with six assists against one turnover.
Over the three games, he totaled 10 assists and two turnovers while defending well on the perimeter. The starting job conversation is still open, but even if Boozer ends up coming off the bench, he’s looking like he could be one of the best reserve guards in the country.
Sebastian Wilkins made his case the old-fashioned way. He didn’t force shots or try to play outside his lane; he just kept doing things that help win.
His on-ball defense was strong all preseason, and his value showed up in the details - rebounding, moving without the ball and using his frame and switchability on defense. He’s a 6'8 wing who can stretch the floor, but he didn’t need to define himself by the jumper.
After using his redshirt year to sharpen the parts of his game that don’t always show up in highlight clips, Wilkins looks like someone who should be part of this rotation regularly.
There were also some early hurdles for Cameron Williams. The five-star freshman was dealing with a virus that affected him early and caused weight loss, a tough break for a player still adjusting to the college game.
That adjustment is going to take time anyway, especially after what Duke saw against Kansas, when several freshmen had to deal with the physicality at this level. Williams still has major NBA upside as an athletic, mobile seven-footer with perimeter shooting touch, but his immediate role may be limited.
He played two minutes against Kansas and had two points and two rebounds in 18 minutes against Tennessee. Duke’s frontcourt depth gives the Blue Devils options, and that means Williams may not be in line for big nightly minutes right away.
Bryson Howard is in a different version of the same situation: a gifted player with obvious upside, but a role that still needs to settle into place. The 6'4 guard has a scorer’s talent and plenty of NBA potential, yet he might fit best as more of a wing in this group.
With defenders like Wilkins bringing size and versatility, Howard likely needs to prove he can be a dependable outside shooter if he wants steady minutes. He scored five points on 1-of-2 shooting from deep against Belmont, then went 0-of-6 from three for four points against Tennessee, before hitting his lone three-point try and finishing with three points against Kansas in eight minutes.
The tools are there, both offensively and defensively, but his regular role is still very much up in the air.
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Duke Fans Have One Huge Reason To Watch Asa Montgomery Today
There is plenty happening around Duke right now, but the spotlight today is on the recruiting trail, where five-star small forward Asa Montgomery is expected to announce his college commitment. For a program that keeps landing in the conversation for elite talent, this is the kind of decision that can shape both the immediate future and the long view, especially with the Blue Devils already carrying momentum from a roster that includes names like Kager Knueppel and Luke Paul.
The timing adds to the buzz, too, with former Duke standouts Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer off to strong starts in the NBA and the football program gearing up for a key home game against Boston College during a demanding stretch. Still, for basketball fans, Montgomerys announcement is the headline worth circling, because it could give Duke another major piece to build around and keep the programs talent pipeline rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Freshmen Just Gave Jon Scheyer A Real Rotation Problem
Duke is coming out of preseason with something every coach wants and every rotation chart hates: options. As the Blue Devils get ready to host Army in their regular-season opener, a handful of freshmen have already made the case that they belong in the mix, with Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Deron Rippey Jr., Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard all showing different flashes of what they can bring. For Jon Scheyer, the early challenge is less about finding talent than figuring out how to sort through it.
The upside is obvious, but so is the uncertainty that comes with freshmen learning the pace and demands of college basketball. Some of those roles figure to change from game to game as Duke settles in, which gives the staff flexibility but also creates a tricky balancing act once the games start counting. The opener should offer a first real look at how much trust Scheyer is willing to place in that young group right away. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Faces A Real Test As Boston College Brings New Momentum
Boston College is showing up to this Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with a little more life than its record might suggest, and Duke will have to be ready for it. The Eagles have pieced together back-to-back comeback wins, leaning on the kind of late-game resilience that can change the feel of a season, and now they get their first meeting with Duke since 2022 in a game that should tell both teams something.
For the Blue Devils, the timing is interesting after a close win over Virginia, the kind of game that can either sharpen a team or leave it vulnerable if the edge slips. Duke will be watching its own health as well, with Walker Eget expected to play despite a recent finger injury, while Boston College brings Mason McKenzie, Bo MacCormack III and a bit of momentum into a matchup that suddenly looks more demanding than it might have a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]