There are few surprises, but here’s a look at the non-conference schedule for Duke basketball in the 2018-19 season. The Blue Devils open the season up against Kentucky at the Champions Classic in Indianapolis. A few weeks later, Duke opens up Maui Invitational play against San Diego State.
1️⃣0️⃣3️⃣ days. #HereComesDuke 🔵😈🏀 pic.twitter.com/PqcPVUMOXX
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) July 26, 2018
Duke’s next competition post-Maui is Indiana in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge; this, of course, is a rematch from 2017, which Duke won 91-81. In the team’s final game before Christmas and ACC play, Duke will take on Texas Tech up in New York City.
The Red Raiders won 27 games in 2017-18, and finished fourth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. However, Texas Tech is without several key players from that roster: Keenan Evans, Zach Smith and Zhaire Smith, who was drafted 16th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Duke basketball will also continue its series with St. John’s: Feb. 2 in Durham. This will be the first time since the 2011-12 season that St. John’s has visited Durham; that season Duke blew a 22-point lead, but held on to win 83-76.
Since Mike Krzyzewski arrived at Duke, the Blue Devils have played the Red Storm 20 times, with a record of 16-4. The two programs faced off at Madison Square Garden in February 2018; St. John’s upset Duke in that matchup, 81-77.
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