Duke Basketball Crushes Wofford, Prepares for Tough Road Tests

Duke Basketball delivered a defensive clinic on Saturday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium, holding Wofford to a mere 35 points in an 86-35 blowout victory. The Blue Devils' defensive dominance set a historic benchmark, with Duke Men's Basketball X account noting that it was the fewest points allowed by the program in the shot-clock era. The last time a Duke opponent scored fewer points was on March 8, 1968, when NC State managed just 12 points.

The offensive production was just as impressive. Duke spread the scoring load, with Tyrese Proctor leading the way with 15 points. Contributions also came from Isaiah Evans (14 points), Caleb Foster (13 points), and Khaman Maluach (11 points). Cooper Flagg continued to fill up the stat sheet with 8 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

By halftime, Duke had raced to a commanding 51-14 lead, effectively sealing the game early. With such a cushion, head coach Jon Scheyer had the luxury of spreading minutes across the roster, and 11 players scored in the win.

This dominant performance came just days after Duke's narrow loss to Kentucky in the Champions Classic. While many expected the Blue Devils to bounce back at home, few could have foreseen such a thorough dismantling of Wofford.

A Grueling Schedule Ahead

The road ahead, however, gets significantly tougher. Duke embarks on a challenging stretch, facing No. 17 Arizona in Tucson on Friday night, followed by a showdown with No. 1 Kansas at the Vegas Showdown in T-Mobile Arena on November 26. The Blue Devils will return to Durham for a Black Friday matchup against Seattle to close out November.

By the time the calendar flips to December, Duke will have faced three Top 25 teams in just seven games. The tests won’t stop there—Duke is set to host No. 4 Auburn on December 4 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. The gauntlet serves as preparation for the start of ACC play, which begins on the road against Louisville on December 8.

Despite the brutal schedule, head coach Jon Scheyer emphasizes staying grounded. When asked about the upcoming matchups, graduate transfer Mason Gillis, who previously played four seasons at Purdue, highlighted the team’s focused mindset:  “You have to prepare for every game the same way and respect every opponent. The ball doesn’t change, the rim doesn’t change—nothing about the game changes. It’s just in a different place against another opponent. We’re going to approach it the same way and do our best.”


Battle-Tested for ACC Play
​
Duke’s challenging non-conference schedule ensures the team will be battle-tested by the time ACC play begins. With strong leadership from Scheyer and contributions from a deep, talented roster, the Blue Devils are primed to handle the rigors of a demanding season.