Duke Finishes Exhibition Slate With Road Win at Kansas
Duke basketball closed its preseason schedule on Sunday afternoon with a 90-84 road victory against the Kansas Jayhawks inside Allen Fieldhouse, finishing its exhibition slate at 3-0. Fifth-year head coach Jon Scheyer pointed to the physical environment as a critical test for his deep 2026-27 roster, particularly for a freshman class that includes reclassified big man Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje.
The depth of our team, I think, is real,
Scheyer said after the game. There’s no doubt about it. And part of this, like, this is our first time [on the road this season]. You can anticipate all you want. But until you’re in the moment and you’re figuring out your team, there’s no question we’re going to have a group where different games certain guys are going to step up or play more minutes than others.
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje Navigates Early Struggles in Lawrence
Heralded newcomer Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje opened his afternoon in Lawrence by missing all but two of his field goal attempts. The 7-foot-2, 250-pound center from Oviedo, Florida, struggled early against the Jayhawks, contrasting sharply with his performances in home exhibition blowout wins over the Belmont Bruins and Tennessee Volunteers earlier this month.
Despite the cold start, the Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year played 27 minutes and finished with six points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He hit a momentum-shifting three-pointer that put the Blue Devils ahead 68-67 with 10:47 remaining, followed 20 seconds later by a steal that led to two free throws by senior transfer guard John Blackwell.
I thought this was a great learning experience for ‘Jojo,’
Scheyer said of the young center, who will not turn 18 until after the season ends. He’s a year early. He’s going to grow so much from this game and this environment.
Preseason Statistics and Roster Depth for the Blue Devils
Over the course of three exhibition matches, Boumtje Boumtje posted averages of 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks while playing 23.3 minutes per game. His shooting percentages stood at 50.0 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 60.0 percent on free throws.
Scheyer utilized a deep rotation throughout the preseason, featuring a scholarship class with three other former five-star prospects. The coaching staff will watch Boumtje Boumtje and the rest of their players — potentially a double-digit regular rotation — grow as the games begin to count toward the team’s record.
Regular Season Opener Against the Army Black Knights
The Blue Devils returned to Durham to prepare for their regular season opener against the Army Black Knights on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the matchup televised on ESPNU.
