All articles tagged with #duke blue devils
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.
Duke opened its offseason with Darren Harris entering the transfer portal—the first exit in what could be a busy period for Jon Scheyer's program. Harris, a former four-star recruit who rarely played in two seasons, leaves as Duke weighs significant decisions from other rotation pieces, with Maliq Brown’s eligibility ending and Cameron Boozer likely pursuing the NBA Draft. The transfer portal is open through April 21, and more Duke players could depart or stay as the roster reshaping continues.
Duke led by as many as 19 but let the game slip and fell 73-72 to UConn in the Final Four, marking the third straight postseason collapse under coach Jon Scheyer. The loss underscores a familiar pattern despite Scheyer rebuilding the program with a star freshman core and ACC titles, highlighted by Cayden Boozer's late turnover and Braylon Mullins' buzzer-beater three. While the season showcased progress, the questions now center on late-game adjustments and whether Duke should lean more on experience to finally win it all.
After Braylon Mullins' game-winning 30-plus foot shot gave UConn a 73-72 win over Duke, Dan Hurley appeared to lean in toward referee Roger Ayers, prompting online speculation about a technical foul. Ayers and ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg said nothing happened; Hurley and Ayers reportedly discussed the moment and maintain mutual respect. The moment became a social-media talking point, but the Huskies still advanced to the Final Four with the win, leaving Duke to regroup after a controversial final possession.
Duke reportedly spent at least $10 million in NIL for its 2025-26 roster (including Cam Boozer), but the Blue Devils fell 73-72 to UConn in the Elite Eight; Boozer had 27 points, while On3 notes several programs spent at least $10 million and suggests the next “golden price point” could be $12–$15 million for rosters.
UConn coach Dan Hurley celebrated Braylon Mullins’ game-winning 3 against Duke to reach the Final Four, then pressed his forehead into a referee—sparking social-media chatter about a potential technical foul—even as UConn rallied to advance to face Illinois.
Grant Hill, calling CBS/TNT’s NCAA Tournament broadcast with Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery, described UConn's 73–72 farewell to Duke as one of the most chaotic and thrilling finishes in tournament history and suggested Braylon Mullins’ deflection and late shot could be the new Laettner moment. Hill connected the sequence to his own 1992 pass to Christian Laettner for 'The Shot,' saying the finish was epic and worth remembering for years, especially if UConn advances to a title run.
UConn rallied from a 19-point halftime deficit to beat Duke 73-72 on a 30-foot buzzer-beater by Braylon Mullins, advancing to face Illinois in the Final Four. Coach Dan Hurley celebrated by wearing only a towel, continuing his superstition, while Tarris Reed led the Huskies with 26 points in the comeback win.
Braylon Mullins hit a 35-foot game-winner with 0.4 seconds left to cap a dramatic Elite Eight comeback that toppled Duke and sent UConn to the Final Four, a moment many compared to the iconic Laettner shot. Down big early, the Huskies staged a late rally, with Mullins creating the decisive sequence after a Duke defensive miscue as Dan Hurley’s fiery leadership helped pull off one of the tournament’s most unforgettable finishes.