Duke’s December date with Texas Tech was already shaping up as one of the sharper non-conference games on the schedule. Now it looks even nastier.
Jon Scheyer didn’t settle for an easy replacement when Michigan fell through. Instead, Duke swapped in Texas Tech, keeping a matchup with a dangerous opponent after last season’s loss to the Red Raiders at Madison Square Garden. The rematch is set for New York City again, and Monday’s news made the challenge even steeper.
Texas Tech has been getting a boost from the Colorado court ruling that granted an extra season of eligibility for the outgoing senior class of 2022. That ruling has helped Grant McCasland piece together a roster that was already drawing attention because of JT Toppin’s injury recovery uncertainty.
The Red Raiders first added back Darrion Williams, who spent two seasons in Lubbock before transferring to NC State last season. He is returning to Texas Tech after taking advantage of the additional year of eligibility.
Then came another major piece. Donovan Atwell, one of the best shooters in college basketball, is also coming back for a fifth season of eligibility.
NEWS: Texas Tech sharpshooter Donovan Atwell is returning to Texas Tech for a fifth year of eligibility following the Colorado court ruling, he told @On3.
The 6-5 senior averaged 13.5 points per game this past season, shooting nearly 46% from three. https://t.co/Ewf7i0tyxm pic.twitter.com/iM04o0REhs
- Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) August 18, 2026
Atwell’s return gives Texas Tech a serious perimeter punch alongside Hofstra transfer Cruz Davis. Davis shot 40% from three-point range last season while averaging more than 20 points and just under five assists per game.
Atwell was even more precise from deep, hitting 45.8% of his threes last season. He has also shot 39.8% or better from beyond the arc in each of the last three seasons.
That makes Texas Tech a dangerous test for a Duke backcourt that should be among the nation’s best. Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer are back, and the Blue Devils also added John Blackwell and Deron Rippey Jr.
So when Duke and Texas Tech meet on December 21, the final non-conference game before ACC play begins, Scheyer’s team will get exactly what it signed up for: a high-level measuring stick. The Blue Devils will have revenge on their minds, but McCasland’s group is looking more and more like anything but a soft landing.
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