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The Duke Blue Devils might have appeared invincible in their first two preseason games, but Sunday's matchup against No. 17 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse served as a reality check. After cruising past Belmont (102-62) and No. 8 Tennessee (103-64), Duke faced its toughest test yet and emerged with a 90-84 victory. The Blue Devils trailed 45-43 at halftime but adjusted offensively in the second half and maintained their defensive intensity to secure the win.
Patrick Ngongba Jr. Dominates Inside
Center Patrick Ngongba Jr. turned in a stellar performance, leading all scorers with 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-11 big man also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out four assists, and blocked two shots. Ngongba's offseason transformation was evident as he used his improved physique and footwork to create space around the rim. Despite Kansas's physical defense, he consistently exploited mismatches and showcased his passing ability by finding cutters and shooters when the defense collapsed.
John Blackwell's Efficient Scoring
Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell continued his impressive preseason, scoring 23 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. What stood out was Blackwell's shot selection—he took what the defense gave him rather than forcing attempts. Last season, he averaged 13.6 shot attempts per game, and while he's expected to be Duke's top scorer, he's not forcing the issue. The 6-foot-5 guard moves well without the ball, cuts efficiently, and contributes in multiple ways beyond scoring.
Free-Throw Shooting Shines
Free-throw shooting was a weakness for Duke last season, ranking 175th nationally at 72.9%, per KenPom. But against Kansas, the Blue Devils excelled at the line, converting 27-of-33 (81.8%) compared to the Jayhawks' 18-of-27 (66.7%). In the second half alone, Duke shot 19 free throws to Kansas's 10, making 16 (84.2%). This +6 advantage in attempts and +9 in makes proved crucial. With the personnel to be a strong three-point shooting team, Duke seems intent on attacking the rim and getting to the line—a strategy that paid off handsomely in this game.
Duke now turns its attention to the regular season opener against Army on Nov. 2 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.