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For Duke supporters, the past week delivered a mix of highs and lows: a men's basketball squad that appears to be a national title contender, a football team that squandered another late lead, and an off-field controversy that cast a shadow over a rivalry defeat.
Here is a comprehensive recap as the Blue Devils prepare for a Friday game at Virginia.
Basketball: Scheyer's Squad Shines
If Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium was any indication, Jon Scheyer has assembled a team capable of competing for a national championship. No. 2 Duke overwhelmed No. 8 Tennessee 103-64 in an exhibition game that was never close. Six Blue Devils scored in double figures, the ball moved fluidly, and the defense suffocated the Volunteers. Tennessee coach Rick Barnes was so impressed that he apologized to Scheyer afterward, saying, "I told Jon I'm sorry we didn't give them a better challenge tonight."
Freshman guard Deron Rippey Jr. needed just 21 minutes to pour in 21 points. Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, whom Duke actively pursued in the portal, added 18 points and provided the competitive edge Scheyer sought, scoring seven consecutive points in the second half and knocking down two 3-pointers. Patrick Ngongba II looked transformed—leaner, quicker, and more agile—finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, a 3-pointer, and a highlight-reel reverse layup that energized the crowd. Cayden Boozer attempted only one shot but earned praise from Scheyer for his all-around play: six assists, five rebounds, and zero ego. "That's going to be the story of our team," Scheyer said. "You do have to sacrifice. It's not going to be where anybody is scoring 15 to 20 points a game."
Duke led 54-30 at halftime and was up 42-14 before Tennessee settled in. The Blue Devils shot 54.5% from the floor, while the Volunteers made just 4 of 18 from beyond the arc. "I wish that counted as a game but it doesn't," Scheyer said. The schedule won't get easier: Duke visits Kansas on Sunday for another exhibition, then faces 10 AP preseason top-25 teams during the regular season. Senior guard Caleb Foster, dealing with a foot issue, could be available against the Jayhawks.
Grammy-winning singer and pianist Alicia Keys attended Tuesday's game, sitting behind the Duke bench with her 16-year-old son, Egypt Dean. The pair was on an unofficial visit because Dean, a 6-foot-4 budding basketball star, hopes to play for the Blue Devils one day.
Football: Victory Bell Eludes Duke
The gridiron mood is far less celebratory. Duke surrendered a fourth-quarter lead for the second consecutive week, falling to North Carolina 24-20 at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Tar Heels, coached by Bill Belichick, stormed the field to reclaim the Victory Bell for the first time since 2023. The game's script was painful: Duke trailed 17-0 after a disastrous first quarter that included a blocked punt, then ripped off 20 unanswered points. Nate Sheppard, upgraded from questionable to a game-time decision despite a bad ankle, grinded out 77 rushing yards and caught a game-high 11 passes for 98 yards. His 9-yard touchdown reception from Walker Eget gave Duke a 20-17 lead with 4:39 remaining. But Billy Edwards Jr. converted a fourth-and-4 with a 12-yard dart to Jelani Thurman, and Jaylen McGill broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run through a gaping hole in the Duke defense. A late Eget interception sealed the outcome.
"There's a frustration in defeat, but this is just what college football is going to be like week-in and week-out," coach Manny Diaz said after his first loss to UNC. "It comes down to who can finish and who can do simple well in not-so-simple times." The back-to-back one-score losses—first 28-25 at Georgia Tech, then the Bell—have left Duke 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the ACC after a championship season. Diaz expressed confidence in his team: "There's a good football team in our locker room that's had two very difficult, heart-breaking results that have come down the last play of the game."
Controversy: Robinson Incident
The ugliest moment of Saturday had nothing to do with the scoreboard. When DaShawn Stone went down injured in the third quarter, cornerback Kimari Robinson leaned over his teammate. A female member of Duke's medical staff ran in to help and tried to move Robinson aside with her arm. Robinson swatted her arm away. Video of the incident went viral, drawing commentary from Robert Griffin III and others. Robinson issued a public apology Sunday night: "I was completely wrong, and she did not deserve that. The injured player on the ground, DaShawn Stone, is like family to me, and I was scared he might be seriously hurt. But being worried about him does not excuse how I treated her. I should have controlled my emotions and I didn't." Diaz addressed the matter at the top of his Monday press conference, stating that Robinson's behavior fell well below team standards but declining to specify any discipline. "Kimari has apologized privately. He's apologized publicly. And that's now a matter that we handle internally," Diaz said. Robinson's status for Friday remains uncertain.
Virginia Preview: Injuries Mount
Duke travels to Scott Stadium for a 7 p.m. Friday kickoff on ESPN as a 1.5-point underdog, with a short week to regroup. The rematch with the Cavaliers carries an obvious subplot: the last time these teams met, Luke Mergott intercepted Chandler Morris in overtime to win the ACC title in Charlotte. Morris is gone; Beau Pribula, a transfer with stops at Penn State and Missouri, is now Virginia's quarterback, having thrown 13 touchdown passes against one interception. But the injury report is a concern. Defensive backs Andrew Pellicciotta (injured against UNC, could miss a couple of weeks) and Evan Smith are out. Stone is questionable. Center Matt Craycraft, a co-captain, will miss a second straight game. Pellicciotta also handled punt returns. Mergott isn't buying any sympathy from Virginia—the Cavaliers had 22 players listed as out last week. "We're definitely expecting a chip on their shoulder," Mergott said. "One chip I know that we will feel is losing our last game. They'll feel that chip and want to come out and smoke us."
Lawsuit Against Staff Member
Director of player development Ranier Rackley, hired this offseason from Rolesville High, is named in a civil lawsuit alleging he sexually abused a student in his classroom in November 2025. Rackley, through his attorney, denies the allegations. Duke athletics declined to comment on the lawsuit filed in Wake County.
Originally reported by newsobserver.