Duke’s Non-Conference Schedule Features Kentucky, Gonzaga And Ohio State

Duke’s non-conference schedule is out and it’s an interesting mix.

Duke opens with Kentucky in the Champions Classic then Coach K gets a bit of nostalgia as Duke takes on Army.

Duke will play Gonzaga in Las Vegas for a big showdown between Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren, generally pegged as the top two recruits in next year’s draft.

There’s also Gardner-Webb, Appalachian, South Carolina State, Lafayette,Cleveland State and the Citadel.

And of course there’s Ohio State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. That one is on the road.

So the meaningful games are likely to be against Kentucky, Ohio State and Gonzaga although, as we’ve seen before over the year, notably from Stephen F. Austin, which won in Cameron, and Vermont, which missed winning at Duke by just a whisker, taking teams lightly is a formula for disaster. Since this is The Last Ride for Coach K though, that seems unlikely.

• MBB: 2021-22 Non-Conference Schedule Announced
• Duke men’s basketball releases full 2021-22 nonconference schedule
• Nonconference games for Coach K’s last Duke team are set. Here’s the who, where and when.