Duke opens up its 2023-24 basketball season in Durham, North Carolina, on Nov. 6 against Dartmouth before facing its first tough test of the season against Arizona on Nov. 10. The Wildcats feature former North Carolina transfer Caleb Love who is no stranger to playing in front of the Cameron Crazies.
The Blue Devils are the No. 3 ranked team in the latest CBS Sports Top 25 and 1 and the only teams ranked ahead of Duke are Kansas and Purdue. Duke has national championship expectations heading into the season with Tyrese Proctor, Jeremy Roach, Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski all returning to the fold. Duke also welcomes the 247Sport No. 2 ranked recruiting class from the 2023 cycle to campus.
The most intriguing game on the nonconference slate is a matchup with Michigan State on Nov. 14 in the Champions Classic. The other marquee game being played in the same building on that day is a battle of blue bloods between Kansas and Kentucky. CBS Sports previously looked ahead at the top nonconference games for the Jayhawks and Wildcats earlier this month.
Here are the Blue Devils’ top five nonconference games to look forward to this season
1. Michigan State
When: Nov. 14, 2023 Where: United Center (Chicago)
The top non-ACC game for the Blue Devils is a date with Michigan State at the Champions Classic. The Spartans have high expectations heading into the season and return three key starters from last season: A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker and Jaden Akins. Michigan State also welcomes one of the top recruiting classes in the country and the headliner of the group is five-star big man Xavier Booker. Despite Booker being raw as a prospect, the upside he possesses could make him a starter at some point this season. This will be a battle of guards and is one of the top college basketball games of the season.
When: Nov. 29, 2023 Where: Bud Walton Arena (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman has been building something special in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks lost Anthony Black, Nick Smith Jr., Jordan Walsh and Ricky Council lV to the NBA and have a handful of new faces from the transfer portal ready to make an impact right away. One of those key newcomers is Louisville guard El Ellis, who averaged over 17 points per game. He is projected to start at point guard and should have an important role in Musselman’s offense. This is Duke’s only true road game in the nonconference slate and it will certainly be a hostile environment in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
3. Arizona
When: Nov. 10, 2023 Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, North Carolina)
Love’s return to Tobacco Road almost makes this game the best on the schedule. Duke fans are not so fond of the former North Carolina star who played a key role on the team that eliminated Duke at the 2022 Final Four in Coach K’s final game. Love attempted to transfer to Michigan this offseason and after some complications, he ended up out west to play for Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd. The Wildcats are fresh off one of the worst losses in NCAA Tournament history and they have arguably the toughest nonconference schedule in the nation that also includes games against Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Alabama and FAU.
When: Dec. 20, 2023 Where: Madison Square Garden (New York)
Baylor is an interesting spot heading into the season. The Bears added one of the top scorers from the transfer portal in former Toldeo guard RayJ Dennis, who averaged nearly 20 points per game. The other projected starter in the backcourt is five-star freshman JaKobe Walker. Baylor returns one full-time starter and five total players that finished the 2022-23 season 23-11. One of the wildcards on the roster is Yves Missi, who reclassified up to join the Bears roster this season. Anytime you go against Baylor coach Scott Drew, it’s bound to be a tough matchup.
When: Dec. 12, 2023 Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, North Carolina)
The Blue Devils get an early-season test when they play host to a Hofstra team that went 25-10 and 16-2 in Colonial Athletic Association. The Pride nearly reached the NCAA Tournament, but fell to UNC Willingham in overtime in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament. It’s hard to find a clear-cut fifth-best nonconference game on the roster, but this game should offer Duke one final tune-up before facing Baylor. Duke’s nonconference slate isn’t as loaded as years past and this experienced roster should head into ACC play with a very good record.
2023-24 Duke basketball schedule
Mon, Nov 6DartmouthDurham, North CarolinaFri, Nov 10ArizonaDurham, North CarolinaTue, Nov 14vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic)ChicagoFri, Nov 17BucknellDurham, North CarolinaTue, Nov 21La SalleDurham, North CarolinaFri, Nov 24Southern IndianaDurham, North CarolinaWed, Nov 29at ArkansasFayetteville, ArkSat, Dec 2at Georgia TechAtlantaSat, Dec 9CharlotteDurham, North CarolinaTue, Dec 12HofstraDurham, North CarolinaWed, Dec 20vs. BaylorNew YorkSat, Dec 30QueensDurham, North CarolinaTue, Jan 2SyracuseDurham, North CarolinaSat, Jan 6at Notre DameSouth Bend, IndianaTue, Jan 9at PittsburghPittsburghSat, Jan 13Georgia TechDurham, North CarolinaSat, Jan 20PittsburghDurham, North CarolinaSat, Jan 27ClemsonDurham, North CarolinaMon, Jan 29at Virginia TechBlacksburg, VirginiaSat, Feb 3at North CarolinaChapel Hill, North CarolinaWed, Feb 7Notre DameDurham, North CarolinaSat, Feb 10Boston CollegeDurham, North CarolinaMon, Feb 12Wake ForestDurham, North CarolinaSat, Feb 17at Florida StateTalahassee, FloridaWed, Feb 21at MiamiCoral Gables, FloridaFri, Feb 23at LouisvilleLouisville, KentuckySat, Feb 24at Wake ForestWinston-Salem, North CarolinaWed, Feb 28LouisvilleDurham, North CarolinaSat, Mar 2VirginiaDurham, North CarolinaMon, Mar 4at NC StateRaleigh, North CarolinaSat, Mar 9North CarolinaDurham, North CarolinaTue, Mar 12-Sat, Mar 16ACC TournamentWashington D.C.
