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In a preseason exhibition, Duke cruised to a 102-62 win over Belmont, a 40-point margin that highlighted the Blue Devils' superior talent and depth. One remarkable statistic stood out: every Duke player recorded a positive plus-minus, while every Belmont player finished in the negative.
The game had its uneven moments, typical of exhibition play, but Duke fans found plenty to be encouraged about. Head coach Jon Scheyer started Pat Ngongba, JoJo Boumtje Boumtje, Dame Sarr, Cayden Boozer, and John Blackwell, with Caleb Foster and Drew Scharnowski sidelined due to injuries.
Ngongba battled foul trouble, picking up three in the first half, and finished with 5 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. Despite the limited minutes, he showed flashes of his potential and even engaged in some physical back-and-forth with Belmont players. His foul issues didn't hinder Duke much, as the team rotated in wave after wave of talented players.
Boumtje Boumtje delivered a standout performance, scoring 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting (2-of-5 from three) and grabbing 7 rebounds. For a 7-foot-2 player, he displayed remarkable fluidity and held his own on defense, though that remains the weaker part of his game.
Sarr looked far more physical than last season, attacking the basket and absorbing contact effectively. He shot 4-of-7 from the field (2-of-3 from deep) and posed a matchup nightmare for Belmont. Notably, he went 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, a huge improvement from his 53.2% mark last year.
Boozer contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, and 1 block, while Blackwell added 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting (2-of-6 from three). Blackwell's hustle play to regain possession after Boumtje Boumtje's three-pointer just before halftime capped a 10-0 run and sent Duke into the locker room with momentum.
Off the bench, Deron Rippey overcame a slow start to finish with 11 points (4-of-6 shooting, 1-of-1 from three), 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Sebastian Wilkins impressed with 8 points, 6 boards, and 2 steals. Bryson Howard chipped in 5 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist.
Cameron Williams, who was revealed to be recovering from an illness, entered later than expected but made an immediate impact with a block. He ended with 2 points and 2 assists. Maxime Meyer showed promise but also some rawness, finishing with 4 points on two dunks (one assisted by Rippey) and three turnovers, two of which came from misjudged passes. Jacob Theodosiou played three minutes and grabbed a rebound.
Key Analysis
Duke's offensive flow was decent but not exceptional, with 16 assists on 34 made baskets. The absence of Foster and Scharnowski, both excellent passers, contributed to 16 turnovers, but those issues should diminish as the team gets healthier. Defensively, Duke stifled Belmont, holding them to 34.48% shooting overall and 23.3% from three-point range. Belmont took nearly 52% of its shots from beyond the arc, a testament to Duke's intimidating interior presence led by Ngongba, Boumtje Boumtje, Williams, and Meyer, with Sarr, Blackwell, Rippey, Howard, and Wilkins providing a disruptive second layer.
Scheyer noted that the lineup is far from finalized and will likely change frequently, especially once Foster and Scharnowski return. However, one constant will be Duke's imposing size and athleticism, which will frustrate opponents all season. It wouldn't be surprising if this year's Duke team faces the most three-point attempts ever against them, as teams struggle to penetrate the paint.
Additional notes: Ngongba's underrated ability to get under opponents' skin was on display when a Belmont player shoved him in the second half. Foster, Ngongba, and Sarr have all transformed their physiques dramatically. Despite the lopsided score, Belmont is a well-coached team that executed some smart plays. Duke dominated even with two key players out and another recovering from illness. The team is not yet polished, but its potential is immense.
Originally reported by yahoo.