All articles tagged with #duke blue devils
Chris Spatola, a veteran ESPN college basketball analyst and former Duke assistant coach, has died at the age of 47. A U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq, Spatola was also the son-in-law of legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski. His sudden passing has prompted tributes from the basketball community, including from the Krzyzewski family, who requested privacy during their grief.
Chris Spatola, a veteran ESPN college basketball analyst and son-in-law of legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, has died at age 47. Spatola, who served as a Duke assistant coach from 2007 to 2012, was a former Army combat veteran and a key figure in the 2010 NCAA championship team. His sudden passing has prompted tributes from the basketball community, with the Krzyzewski family requesting privacy as they grieve.
Duke erased a 24-14 deficit to beat Illinois 31-27 on the road, led by Nate Sheppard's three total touchdowns and 147 rushing yards as the Blue Devils extended their winning streak to six games; the defense sealed it late with key stops and an interception, setting up a home matchup with Stanford.
Former Duke forward Kyle Singler posted alarming Instagram videos accusing Coach K and others of ignoring him, claiming he has no power or home, that people are breaking into his house and trying to kill him, and that Duke figures are after his money, continuing safety concerns he has raised in the past.
The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Duke guard Isaiah Evans with the No. 33 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft via a trade with the Brooklyn Nets that also involved Julius Randle, adding a versatile guard who averaged 15.0 points and 3.2 rebounds for Duke and displayed clutch scoring in the NCAA tournament, including 25 points in the Sweet 16 and 32 in the ACC tournament, with scouts noting his off-ball shooting and improving burst as he projects to help Minnesota in its playoff pursuit.
Cameron Boozer was drafted third overall by the Memphis Grizzlies at the 2026 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, with his mom CeCe (Cindy) Boozer looking on proudly as family celebrated. CeCe spoke of faith over fear while Cameron credited his family for supporting his journey—she even drove him to practices to find trainers—amid a night that also highlighted the Duke standout's 2026 season (22.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.1 apg) and a family lineup that includes ex-husband Carlos Boozer, twin Cayden, older brother Carmani, and girlfriend Yva Lauren Cao.
Cameron Boozer, Duke forward and son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer, is projected as a top pick in the 2026 NBA draft after a standout freshman season and is backed by a close-knit family, with dad Carlos praising his work ethic, leadership, and discipline. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo ranks Cameron third on the draft board, and he looks forward to hearing his name called at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, as Andscape’s father–son features spotlight the Boozers alongside other celebrated draft families.
Andy Katz released his Power 44 preseason rankings after the 2026 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline, with Florida and Duke leading the pack as rosters stabilize through retention and key transfers, while programs like Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, UConn, and Louisville reload for the 2026-27 season.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg won the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as NBA Rookie of the Year, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists through 70 games; at his post‑award press conference a woman seated with his parents drew online buzz amid speculation she could be Arianna Roberson of Duke, though the identity remains unconfirmed.
Florida’s unprecedented retention could push the Gators toward a preseason No. 1, Illinois kept its Final Four core and added depth, Duke reloaded with a veteran guard and solid frontcourt, and Texas stacked four portal pieces to form a versatile, defensively elite lineup. Kansas State overhauled with nine transfers but lacks a top-tier impact signee, while Wake Forest and Notre Dame suffered losses with limited immediate fixes. The Big East looks stronger overall as Xavier, Providence, Marquette and DePaul upgrade. Overall, the portal season rewards teams that retain key players and pair them with high-impact transfers, even as the top free-agent pool is smaller than last year.
Duke secured Wisconsin guard John Blackwell, a 19.1 PPG scorer who shot 44.1% from the field and 37.5% from three, adding much-needed scoring as Boozer and Evans are expected to declare for the NBA; Blackwell was targeted by UCLA, Illinois and Louisville before choosing Duke, which also welcomes back Cayden Boozer, Patrick Ngongba, and adds Drew Scharnowski as it aims for a sixth national title under coach Jon Scheyer.
Duke landed Wisconsin guard John Blackwell, a 19.1-point scorer with sharp shooting and veteran savvy, bolstering a roster that blends returning players with a top freshman class and positioning Duke as a national title favorite next season.
Wisconsin transfer guard John Blackwell, ranked No. 5 in On3's 2026 Transfer Portal, canceled his Louisville visit after a Monday Duke campus visit, fueling predictions he’ll join the Blue Devils. Duke has already landed Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and plans to rely on returning guards Cayden Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II, potentially forming a dangerous backcourt. Blackwell, who has one year of eligibility left, averaged 19.1 points per game last season in Wisconsin and accumulated 105 games with 72 starts in three seasons. The NCAA Transfer Portal window runs April 7–21, with athletes not required to commit by the deadline; On3 notes Duke’s No.1 incoming class and other top prospects in the mix.
A 15-year-old, Jack O'Shea, was killed when a car allegedly driven by Joseph Savarino, 26, grandson of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, struck him on an electric bike in Durham, NC. Savarino has been charged with misdemeanor driving while impaired after testing 0.11 BAC; he was released on $100,000 bail. O'Shea's mother posted about his 'last perfect day'—confession, two baseball games, and a bike ride—describing him as 'our perfect, smart, athletic, fearless, and handsome' son, whose death has devastated the family.
Indiana University is evaluating Duke guard Darren Harris as a potential transfer-portal addition to boost perimeter shooting and guard depth. Harris, a 2024 top-40 recruit from Paul VI Catholic, played sparingly at Duke with limited 3-point success and has two years of eligibility remaining, making him a potential buy-low fit for the Hoosiers if he can secure a larger role.