Duke University’s men’s basketball team continues to dominate headlines with its ferocious defense, now ranked among the nation’s elite ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes clash against Illinois at Madison Square Garden in the SentinelOne Classic.
Defensive Juggernaut
As of February 19, KenPom ranks Duke’s defense fourth nationally with an adjusted efficiency rating of 90.9. The Blue Devils allow just 60.8 points per game (6th in NCAA) and hold opponents to 38.4% shooting (7th). Freshman phenom Cooper Flagg leads this charge, ranked as the second-best defender nationally by EvanMiya’s metrics (4.34 rating). He’s joined by teammates Maliq Brown (4th in ACC) and Khaman Maluach (11th), forming a lockdown unit that has forced 26 shot-clock violations this season.
Overtime Thriller in Lacrosse
No. 6 Duke men’s lacrosse edged No. 19 Michigan 12-11 in overtime Friday, fueled by sophomore Brennan McAdorey’s clutch goal. The win keeps Duke unbeaten (3-0) early in a season where they aim to reclaim their 2024 NCAA Championship momentum.
Baseball Stumbles in Opener
Duke’s baseball team fell 5-4 to Cornell despite late rallies, marking a rocky start for the preseason No. 17 squad. Pitcher Jonathan Santucci struck out seven but allowed three runs in four innings.
Upcoming Battles
- Women’s Basketball: No. 11 Duke hosts Syracuse Sunday on The CW network.
- Quantum Conference: Duke hosts the 28th Annual Conference on Quantum Information Processing in Raleigh through February 28.
