Helena Frye
Duke University's basketball team, the Blue Devils, has a rich history in college basketball, with the men's team being led by the ALL-TIME winningest coach, Mike Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K. The team has experienced success under Coach K, including a 21-game winning streak, undefeated home seasons, and multiple NCAA Final Four appearances. The Blue Devils have also produced notable alumni such as Cooper Flagg, JJ Redick, and Jayson Tatum. However, in recent years, the team has faced challenges and is in a rebuilding phase after losses to Houston and Illinois. Duke University also has a women's basketball team, which has faced its own set of triumphs and tribulations.
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What You'll Learn
Duke Blue Devils' practice observations
Duke Blue Devils fans got an early look at the 2025-26 team during an open practice on August 5, 2025. The event, which took place inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, attracted a large crowd of fans, some of whom had travelled from across the country.
Head coach Jon Scheyer said that Maliq Brown was "weeks ahead of schedule" following offseason surgery on his left shoulder. Brown, one of the top defenders in the nation, participated in drills but did not play in the scrimmages, which was in line with the timeline Scheyer had provided during his summer press conference.
The scrimmages saw sophomore Isaiah Evans lead the scoring, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Freshman Cayden Boozer impressed with his point guard skills and court vision, while Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 player in his class, showcase his scoring prowess.
Patrick Ngongba, the Blue Devils' tallest threat at 6-foot-11, scored 19 points and consistently snagged rebounds. He also showed a talent for passing and knocked down a 3-pointer. Freshman wings Dame Sarr and Nik Khamenia also had solid moments. Sarr is an elite cutter, capable of powerful dunks, while Khamenia is a classic connector, making the easy play to get the best shot for his team.
Duke's 2025 recruiting class also includes Cayden Boozer, Nik Khamenia, Dame Sarr, and Sebastian Wilkins. During a summer scrimmage, Wilkins drained a 3-pointer from the wing and made a steal that led to a fast-break dunk.
In 2022, Duke Blue Devils had their fifth preseason practice under coach Jon Scheyer, preparing for the 2022-23 college basketball season. Graduate transfer Ryan Young displayed nifty moves in the post, finishing well around the basket and not hesitating to attempt 3-pointers. With Dariq Whitehead injured, the team had eight players in rotation.
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Duke Blue Devils' exhibition games
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represents Duke University in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team has won five national championships, appeared in 11 national championship games, and 18 Final Fours.
The Blue Devils have a tradition of hosting the previous season's Division II national champion in an exhibition game each November. In 2025, the team will play two preseason exhibition games, the first against UCF, coached by former Duke player and assistant coach Johnny Dawkins, and the second at Tennessee on October 26.
The game against UCF will be a Brotherhood Run exhibition game, a name the program used last year when former Duke all-American guard Bobby Hurley brought his Arizona State team to Cameron for a preseason exhibition with the Blue Devils. Dawkins played for the Blue Devils from 1982-86 and ended his Duke career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,556 points. His No. 24 jersey was retired in 1986, and he spent a decade on Duke's coaching staff after his NBA career ended.
Duke has also announced two regular-season games that are dubbed Brotherhood Run games, against Niagara and Howard in November 2025. In addition to these exhibition games, the Blue Devils will face Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden on December 20, 2025.
The team is currently ranked No. 12 in ESPN's preseason top 25 rankings and is bringing in the No. 1 overall 2025 recruiting class. Several former Blue Devils have also been dominating the Las Vegas Summer League, including Kyle Filipowski, Cooper Flagg, and Kon Knueppel.
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Duke Blue Devils' star Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg, born on December 21, 2006, is an American basketball prodigy who rose to fame as a freshman at Duke University. Flagg, a native of Newport, Maine, began his high school career at Nokomis Regional High School before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida. Here, he showcased his exceptional talent, earning the top spot in the 2024 class rankings and securing multiple national high school player of the year honours.
Flagg's journey with the Duke Blue Devils began when he verbally committed to the team in October 2023, signing a National Letter of Intent to play for them during the early signing period. He made his college basketball debut on November 4, 2024, against Maine, scoring 18 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a dominant 96–62 victory. This impressive start set the tone for the rest of his freshman season, where he consistently delivered outstanding performances.
One of Flagg's most memorable games with the Blue Devils came against Notre Dame on January 11, 2025. In this contest, he achieved a remarkable feat, scoring 42 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out seven assists. This performance broke freshman scoring records for both Duke University and the ACC, solidifying his status as a rising star. Flagg's impact extended beyond this game, as he consistently contributed to the team's success throughout the season.
Flagg's freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils was filled with accolades and achievements. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rookie of the week on multiple occasions and earned consensus first-team All-American honours. Additionally, he led the Blue Devils to the ACC regular-season title, showcasing his leadership and impact on the team's success. Flagg's performances in the NCAA Tournament were also noteworthy, as he helped Duke advance to the Elite Eight and Final Four.
Following his stellar freshman year, Cooper Flagg was selected as the first overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA draft. He became the second-youngest player to be drafted at 18 years old. Flagg's journey from a small town in Maine to becoming a college basketball sensation and NBA draftee is an inspiring testament to his talent, dedication, and hard work.
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Duke Blue Devils' coach Jon Scheyer
Jon Scheyer is the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, the basketball team of Duke University. Scheyer, a former Duke All-American and two-time team captain, was named the 20th head coach in Duke University's basketball history on June 4, 2021. He succeeded Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, who announced his retirement plans in June 2021, following the 2021-22 season.
Scheyer's journey with Duke began as a player. After leading his high school team to an Illinois state basketball championship, he chose Duke as his college, majoring in history. During his freshman year in 2006-07, he started all 33 Blue Devils games and led all freshmen in the ACC with a .846 free throw percentage. In his sophomore year, he played in all 34 games, averaging the third-most minutes-per-game on the team (28.3) and was widely hailed as one of the country's top sixth men. He was named one of three captains for the Blue Devils for the 2008-09 season and led the team to win the 2010 NCAA Basketball Championship.
Following his playing career, Scheyer returned to Duke as an assistant coach in April 2013. He served under Krzyzewski, who praised Scheyer's understanding of the game and his ability to make good decisions with the ball. Over the years, Scheyer worked his way up, becoming a full assistant coach in 2014 and then associate head coach in 2018. During this time, he also served as the acting head coach for a game in January 2021, filling in for Krzyzewski, who was quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure.
In June 2021, Scheyer was officially named the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils. At the time of his hire, he was among the youngest head coaches in Division-I men's basketball and the youngest at a power conference institution. As a head coach, he has continued to find success. In his first year, he led the Blue Devils to a 27-9 record, won the ACC Tournament title, and became the first coach in ACC history to post an undefeated home record in a debut season. He also became the first to lead a team to an ACC title as both a player and a head coach.
Scheyer's impact on Duke's basketball program has been praised by many, including Duke Vice President & Director of Athletics, Nina King, who highlighted his commitment to excellence in athletics and academics. His knowledge of the game, both as a player and a coach, has been valued, and his passion for the Duke jersey is said to be contagious.
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Duke Blue Devils' winning streak
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team has had a rich history of success, including 5 NCAA Championship wins (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015). The team has consistently performed well and made it to the NCAA Tournament, boasting the best winning percentage in tournament history.
One of the most notable winning streaks for the Blue Devils came during the 1991-92 season. Coming off their first NCAA Championship win in 1991, the team started the season with 17 consecutive victories, ultimately posting a 34-2 overall record and securing back-to-back championships. This streak included a memorable game against the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the Final Four, where Duke upset the heavily favored team by 79-77, avenging their 30-point loss in the previous year's final.
Another impressive streak for the Blue Devils was during the 2005-06 season when they started the season with a 17-0 record, showcasing their dominance early on.
The Duke Blue Devils have also had a notable rivalry with the North Carolina Tar Heels, often considered one of the top rivalries in college basketball. While North Carolina leads the rivalry in terms of wins, the Blue Devils have had their share of memorable victories, including a recent 87-70 win in 2025, their largest home margin of victory over their rivals in recent years.
The Blue Devils have consistently performed well under different coaches, including Mike Krzyzewski, who led the team to 5 National Championships, and Jon Scheyer, who guided them to their 18th Final Four appearance in 2025.
In addition to their men's basketball success, the Duke Blue Devils have excelled in other sports, including golf, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis, showcasing their athletic prowess across various disciplines.
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Frequently asked questions
The Blue Devils.
Jon Scheyer.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K.
Cooper Flagg, JJ Redick, Jayson Tatum, and Christian Laettner.
Duke University has a variety of sports teams, including football, volleyball, women's soccer, and men's tennis.
