Duke, UNC Renew Rivalry Saturday in Top-15 Showdown

The Opening Tip

Saturday features a top-15 rivalry matchup between No. 4 Duke and No. 14 North Carolina.
Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas and Kris Budden will call the action on ESPN. David Shumate and John Roth team up for the broadcast on the Blue Devil Sports Network.
Saturday marks the 266th meeting in the rivalry's history.
The last 100 games in the series favors Duke, 54-46.
The Blue Devils swept the rivalry series last season, including a 74-71 victory in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Duke (79.4") and UNC (79.3") are two of the three tallest teams in the country. (KenPom)
Duke has won 32 of its last 33 games against conference opponents.
Duke is No. 3 in NET rankings and is tied for the national lead with nine Quad 1 wins. (Feb. 4)
The Blue Devils have played eight nationally-ranked opponents this season (7-1 record).
Duke has secured top-25 victories over No. 7 Michigan State, No. 15 Florida, No. 20 Louisville (twice), No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 SMU and No. 25 Kansas.
Duke is one of two teams ranked in the top-five nationally in both offensive efficiency (127.0, 5th) and defensive efficiency (91.2, 4th) ratings. (KenPom)
The Blue Devils lead the ACC and are seventh nationally in scoring margin (+20.5).
Duke tops the conference and ranks 10th in the country in rebounding margin (+9.8).
The Blue Devils rank seventh in the nation and first in the ACC in scoring defense (63.6 ppg).
Cameron Boozer is the nation's fourth-leading scorer with an ACC-high 23.3 points per game, and tops the ACC in rebounding (9.9 rpg), is fourth in steals (1.9 spg), 12th in assists (4.1 apg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.583).
Boozer has recorded at least 14 points, five rebounds and two assists in all 22 games this season, the longest such streak by any player (men's or women's) at any point in a Division I career this century. (OptaSTATS)
Isaiah Evans ranks third in the ACC in free-throw percentage (.880), and is the ACC's 12th-leading scorer in conference play, averaging 17.0 points per league game.
Duke has a 27-0 record the past two seasons when Evans scores in double figures.
Duke's 21-1 record is the program's best start to a season since the 2007-08 campaign (22-1).
Duke owns the best record in Division I college basketball over the past two seasons at 56-5.
On Dec. 16, Jon Scheyer broke the ACC record for the fastest coach to 100 wins (122 games), exceeding the standard set by Duke's Vic Bubas in 1964 (128 games).
Duke is coming off its 18th Final Four appearance, 23rd ACC Tournament title and 21st ACC regular-season championship, finishing with a 35-4 overall record last season.

About the North Carolina Tar Heels

Saturday marks the 266th meeting in the rivalry's history.
North Carolina is Duke's most-frequently played opponent, ahead of Wake Forest (264) and NC State (258).
The last 100 games in the series favors Duke, 54-46.
The Blue Devils swept the rivalry series last season, including a 74-71 victory in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
North Carolina leads the conference and ranks 10th nationally in assist/turnover ratio (+1.80).
The Tar Heels commit the fewest fouls (14.9) and turnovers (9.5) per game in the ACC.
North Carolina tops the league and is 12th in the nation in defensive rebounding, averaging 28.4 per contest.
Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson are atop the ACC in double-doubles with 12 (18th nationally) and 11, respectively.
Caleb Wilson ranks third in the league in rebounding (9.8 rpg) and fourth in scoring (20.0 ppg), and is the team's second-leading playmaker with 62 assists (2.8 apg).
Henri Veesaar averages 16.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

On This Date - Feb. 7

Duke is 24-9 overall on Feb. 7, having won 11 of the last 14 games played on this date.
The last time the Blue Devils played on Feb. 7, resulted in a 71-53 home victory over Notre Dame in 2024.
Duke is 7-7 in road games played on this date, including an 87-83 win at North Carolina in 2006, Duke's last Feb. 7 road game.
The Blue Devils have won seven of their nine games played on Feb. 7 since 2000.

Last Time Out

No. 4 Duke moved to 21-1 overall and 10-0 in the ACC with a 67-49 victory over Boston College on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Cameron Boozer eclipsed 500 points for the season with a 19-point performance, while tallying his 11th double-double of the campaign with 12 rebounds. Boozer also led all players with five steals, a new career high for the freshman forward. Isaiah Evans joined Boozer in double-figures with 12 points, while Maliq Brown led all players in assists with four.
Duke posted its second consecutive wire-to-wire victory and led by as many as 20 points in the second half, helping the Blue Devils to their 10th consecutive victory.
On defense, Duke limited the Eagles to 49 points, which matched Boston College's low point output for the season.
The Blue Devils are now 59-3 (.952) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in four seasons under Jon Scheyer. Duke has won 15 straight against ACC foes at home.
Duke's winning streak reached 10 games, its second double-digit stretch of the year without a loss (started the season 11-0).
Duke shot 18-of-29 (.621) from the field in the first half, its best shooting performance in a first half against an ACC opponent this season.
The Eagles entered Saturday's game averaging 68.1 points per game, but were held to 49, 19.1 below their season average. Duke's defense has held all but two of their 22 opponents below their scoring average. The 49 points matched Boston College's season low for points (49 vs. Davidson) and was the lowest scoring output in a conference game.
Duke ranked 11th nationally and led the ACC in scoring defense (64.3) entering Tuesday and held Boston College to 15.3 points below that average.

Blue Devils Efficient at Both Ends of the Floor

Duke is one of only two teams ranked in the top-five nationally in both offensive efficiency (127.0, 5th) and defensive efficiency (91.2, 4th) ratings, according to KenPom.com.
The Blue Devils are the nation's No. 3-rated team, according to KenPom, with an overall rating of 35.75. (through games played on Feb. 3)
The 2024-25 Blue Devils achieved the best offensive efficiency rating (130.1) in the history of KenPom (since 1996-97 season).
In 2024-25, Duke registered the second-highest overall rating (39.29) in KenPom history, trailing only the 1998-99 Duke Blue Devils (43.01).
Last season, Duke was the only team in the country ranked among the top-five in both offensive (130.1, 1st) and defensive (90.8, 5th) adjusted efficiency (KenPom).

Tracking Blue Devil Deflections

Through 22 games, the Blue Devils have accumulated 416 deflections, an average of 18.9 per game.
Duke amassed a season-best 32 deflections versus Niagara (Nov. 21), topping the previous high of 30 against Indiana State (Nov. 14).
Maliq Brown, described as a "defensive menace" by head coach Jon Scheyer, tops Duke with 120 deflections (5.5 avg.).
Brown, who was selected to the 2023-24 ACC All-Defensive Team after leading the league with 71 steals as a sophomore at Syracuse, recorded 12 deflections against Niagara (Nov. 21), the most by a Blue Devil this season.
Brown has the best steal percentage (5.16%) in the ACC and ranks sixth nationally, according to KenPom (percentage of possessions a player records a steal while on the court).
Brown joined teammate Cameron Boozer as one of 25 players selected to the 2025-26 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award watch list, announced Jan. 29.

Cleaning the Glass

Duke tops the conference and ranks 10th in the country in rebounding margin (+9.8), outrebounding its opposition by an average of 39.9 to 30.1 boards per game.
The Blue Devils have outrebounded their opponent in 18 games this season.
Duke has outrebounded six opponents by 20 or more boards, including a season-best rebound margin of +34 (55-21) against Lipscomb and a +21 (47-26) versus Louisville.
Duke has limited three opponents to two points or less in second-chance points, including a pair of shutouts (Lipscomb, Georgia Tech).

Strength of Schedule

Duke has secured seven top-25 victories with wins over No. 7 Michigan State, No. 15 Florida, No. 20 Louisville (twice), No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 SMU and No. 25 Kansas.
Duke has played 10 Quad 1 games, based on the NCAA's NET rankings (Feb. 4), with a 9-1 record in those contests. The Blue Devils' nine Quad 1 wins are tied for the most in the country.
Eight ACC teams are among the top 40 of the NCAA's NET rankings - second-most of any league. (as of Feb. 4)
Five ACC teams are ranked in the latest Associated Press top-25 poll (Feb. 2): No. 4 Duke, No. 14 North Carolina, No. 18 Virginia, No. 20 Clemson and No. 24 Louisville.
Duke's 2025-26 non-conference lineup features eight opponents that reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago: Texas (Nov. 4; Charlotte, N.C.), Kansas (Nov. 18; New York, N.Y.), Arkansas (Nov. 27; Chicago), Florida (Dec. 2; Durham), Michigan State (Dec. 6; East Lansing, Mich.), Lipscomb (Dec. 16; Durham), Texas Tech (Dec. 20; New York, N.Y.) and Michigan (Feb. 21; Washington, D.C.). Of those teams, five advanced to the Sweet 16, with three reaching the Elite Eight.
The Blue Devils play 10 games against teams ranked in ESPN's preseason top 25: No. 2 Florida, No. 6 Louisville (twice), No. 8 Michigan, No. 11 Texas Tech, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 22 Kansas, No. 24 NC State and No. 25 North Carolina (twice).

Duke's Three-Point Streak

Duke has connected on at least one 3-pointer in 1,286 straight games, the longest streak nationally.
It has been more than 35 years since Duke was held without a three-point field goal -- Dec. 30, 1989, versus Hawai'i.

AP Poll Streak Extends

With the release of the Associated Press preseason poll on Oct. 13, Duke was ranked No. 6 -- extending a notable streak.
The Blue Devils have now been ranked in the top 10 at least once in 30 consecutive seasons -- the longest active streak nationally. The next closest program is Kansas, which has held a top-10 ranking at some point in each of the last 20 seasons.
The No. 6 ranking also marked the 18th consecutive season that the Blue Devils made their debut in the top 10.
Duke's current run in the AP top-25 poll is 57 consecutive weeks - the third-longest active streak. (as of Feb. 2)

The 2025-26 Duke Blue Devils

Entering the 2025-26 campaign under fourth-year head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke returns six players from a squad that finished 35-4 overall last season, capturing the program's 23rd ACC Tournament title, 21st ACC regular-season crown and advancing to its 18th Final Four.
The 2025-26 Duke squad returns just 20% of its offensive production from last season, as all five 2024-25 starters, representing the team's top five scorers, were selected in the NBA Draft.
The 2025-26 Blue Devils welcomed the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class - the seventh top-ranked recruiting class for Duke since Scheyer joined the coaching staff.
The Blue Devils are the second-tallest team in the country, trailing Illinois (79.7") - with an average height of 79.4 inches. (KenPom)
Duke is one of the youngest teams in the nation with an average of 0.89 years of Division I experience, according to KenPom.com, which ranks 309th out of 365.

Other Notables

Duke has won 32 of its last 33 games against conference opponents.
Duke owns the best record in Division I college basketball over the past two seasons at 56-5. Houston is second at 55-7. (College Basketball Report)
Since Thanksgiving 2024, the Blue Devils have achieved a record of 52-3 (.945).
The Blue Devils' 17 straight ACC regular-season victories is the third-longest ACC winning streak in program history and the longest since 2000.
Duke has won eight consecutive ACC road games, which is tied for the third-longest ACC road winning streak in program history.
Duke has a record of 64-2 (.970) when committing 15 or fewer fouls under head coach Jon Scheyer, compared to 46-21 (.687) when the Blue Devils have 16 or more fouls. (@EvanMiya)
Maliq Brown is fourth in the nation in 2-point field goal percentage (75.8%), having made 50-of-66 shots inside the arc.
The Blue Devils have confronted double-digit deficits in four outings this season, including their largest deficits at Louisville (12) and versus SMU (11), and have rallied to win all four games.
Duke's 11-0 start was the best unbeaten open to a season since the 2017-18 campaign, and its current 21-1 record is the best start to a season since 2007-08 (22-1).
The 55-point margin of victory over Army West Point (Nov. 11) was Duke's largest road win in program history.
Duke posted a record of 36-3 (.923) in 2025, to tie the ACC record for most wins in a calendar year, equaling the 1992 Blue Devils (36-2) and North Carolina in 2008 (36-3).

Cameron Boozer's Historic Campaign

Cameron Boozer is the first Duke freshman to score 35 points or more twice - amassing 35 points versus Indiana State (Nov. 14) and tallying 35 points again versus Arkansas (Nov. 27).
The freshman forward became the first NCAA Division I or NBA player in the last 30 seasons to have an eight-game span with more than 175 points, 75 rebounds and 25 assists, 10 or fewer turnovers, and an undefeated record - doing so in Duke's first eight games. (OptaSTATS)
Boozer became the first ACC player with at least 100 points, 50 rebounds and 20 assists in a five-game span since Craig Smith of Boston College in March 2006. The freshman forward accomplished that standard in his first five college contests. (Nov. 19)
Boozer is the only Division I player in the last 30 seasons to collect at least 250 points, 100 rebounds and 40 assists through his first 11 career games. (Dec. 17; OptaSTATS)
Boozer amassed 35 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks, connecting on 13-of-16 field goals in a win over Indiana State on Nov. 14, becoming the first major conference freshman to reach 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists with no more than one turnover since Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony in 2003 (ESPN), and joined Zion Williamson (2019) and Christian Laettner (1990) as the third Duke player in the past 45 years to score at least 35 points in a double-double performance.
Boozer's nine assists against Florida State were the most by a Blue Devil in the past three seasons (10 assists by Tyrese Proctor against Pitt in the 2023 ACC Tournament).
Boozer needed just 16 career games to record 300+ points, 150+ rebounds and 50+ assists. That is the second fewest needed by any player this century, as LSU's Ben Simmons reached those figures in 15 games 10 years ago in 2015-16. (Stats Perform)
Boozer became the first Blue Devil to score 30 points in consecutive games since RJ Barrett in February 2019.
Boozer has recorded at least 14 points, five rebounds and two assists in all 22 games this season, the longest such streak by any player (men's or women's) at any point in a Division I career this century. (OptaSTATS)
The Miami native has amassed 25 points or more in 10 out of 22 games, including 35 points against No. 22 Arkansas, 35 points versus Indiana State, 32 points against Wake Forest, 30 points at Stanford and 29 points against No. 15 Florida.
Boozer's 32-point performance versus Wake Forest (Jan. 24) was his 10th game scoring 25 points or more, which ranks third among Duke freshmen all time.
Boozer has been voted ACC Player of the Week four times (Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Jan. 19) and ACC Rookie of the Week eight times (Nov. 17, Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19, Jan. 26).
The freshman forward is currently the nation's fourth-leading scorer with 23.3 points per game, ranks 16th nationally with 9.9 rebounds per contest and is tied for 13th with 11 double-doubles.
Among ACC statistical leaders, Boozer leads the league in scoring (23.3 ppg) and rebounding (9.9 rpg), and ranks fourth in steals (1.9 spg), 12th in assists (4.1 apg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.583).

All-Access with Coach Jon Scheyer

The weekly television show, "Duke All-Access with Jon Scheyer," is back for its fourth season in 2025-26.
The 30-minute show features Jon Scheyer and his Blue Devils team. Presented in magazine format and produced by John Roth, the show also includes informative player features and behind-the-scenes access to the Duke program.
A production of Blue Devil Sports Properties from LEARFIELD, the show airs locally on ABC-11 WTVD on Sundays at noon ET and is live streamed on ABC11.com Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET. It is also available regionally across the FanDuel Sports Network on Fridays at 12 p.m. ET; and on MASN Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. ET. It can also be viewed via the Duke Athletics YouTube Channel and archived on GoDuke.com.
For this week only, Duke All-Access will air on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2:30 p.m., on ABC-11 WTVD in the Raleigh-Durham market.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMBB".

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Duke, UNC Renew Rivalry Saturday in Top-15 Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Cameron Boozer

Maliq Brown

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Tyrese Proctor

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Duke, UNC Renew Rivalry Saturday in Top-15 Showdown

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cameron Boozer

Maliq Brown

Isaiah Evans

Tyrese Proctor

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