Duke basketball handles Howard. What we learned in the Blue Devils’ blowout win
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Duke deployed efficient offense and aggressive man-to-man defense to win.
- Cameron Boozer led with 26 points and 12 rebounds while facilitating teammates.
- Duke ranks top eight nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency per KenPom.
Duke fans had a lot to cheer Sunday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The “Brotherhood Run” came to an end as Howard coach Kenny Blakeney, who played on Duke’s 1992 national championship team, was given a nice round of applause before the game.
The noise level grew once the ball went up as the No. 5 Blue Devils began running the court and dunking at will on their way to a 93-56 victory over the Bison as Cameron Boozer had 26 points and 12 rebounds.
A day after the Devils’ 32-25 win over rival North Carolina, their football team took the floor during the first half to be honored and brought the Victory Bell with them. That had ‘em all standing and roaring in Cameron as the Bell clanged away.
The Blue Devils (7-0) will spend Thanksgiving Day in Chicago, where they will play Arkansas. Just ahead are games against Florida and Michigan State. But Sunday’s game was a nice holiday sendoff as Duke blended some efficient offense with its aggressive man-to-man defense for a comfortable victory.
“Seeing Duke, wow, I’m super impressed,” Blakeney said. “If this is the No. 5 in the country, I don’t know the four teams better than them. They’re awesome.
“They share the ball as well as anyone in the country. Their ability to defend … there is no weakness at all. Duke is really, really good.”
The Devils took a 100-42 win Friday over Niagara, coached by Greg Paulus, another former Devil guard. Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II scored a career-high 17 points as six players finished in double figures. Against Howard, it was Boozer leading the way and Ngongba adding 16 points as the two combined to make 18 of 21 shots.
Bryce Harris, a graduate guard who plays with some spunk in his game, had 15 points for the Bison (3-4). Blakeney praised his team for playing with energy in the second half, when Duke had a 41-38 edge.
Both Paulus and Blakeney had their pregame moments with Mike Krzyzewski, their old coach, and a photo opportunity with Krzyzewski and Duke coach Jon Scheyer. Add in Johnny Dawkins in the preseason game against Central Florida, and it has been quite a Duke reunion.
“I thought we did a lot of good things,” Scheyer said. “We’ll continue to build and get ready for Thursday.”
What was learned Sunday about the Blue Devils?
Blue Devils selfless on offense
Scheyer has praised his team early in the season for sharing the basketball on offense, and the Devils do have a seemingly selfless group. Duke had 21 assists Sunday, the fifth time this season, the Devils have had 20 or more.
“No matter what we say as a coaching staff, they have to believe in each other and they have to want to do it, and they do,” Scheyer said.
Cameron Boozer is always a first option, and will be this season. But Boozer also is willing to pass up a good shot to get a teammate a better one.
“When it comes from guys who are going to be your leading scorers, it becomes infectious,” Scheyer said.
The big man has good hands and quick feet — Krzyzewski, on a recent podcast, said Boozer has “great” feet with his exceptional agility and mobility at 6-9 and 250 pounds.
During the first half Sunday, Cayden Boozer had a pass tipped and Howard was about to come away with a steal before Cameron Boozer quickly stepped in and snatched the ball out of the air, bailing his little brother out of a turnover. Boozer then whipped a pass to Brown under the basket for a dunk.
Early in the game, Cameron Boozer fired off a 60-foot inbounds pass to an open Isaiah Evans for a quick dunk. The play happened so quickly and effortlessly that the Bison defenders were caught completely flat-footed, causing Blakeney to call a timeout with the score 5-0.
Cameron Boozer got his points, of course. His teammates saw to that as he had 14 points and six rebounds at halftime. Boozer again showed off his shooting range, knocking down 3-pointers in each half, and also had a steal and breakaway dunk.
Howard can’t solve Duke’s defense
When Howard went to the locker room at halftime, it was facing a 52-18 deficit. Blakeney had seen his team make just seven of 29 shots, going 2-for-13 on 3-pointers in the half.
Blakeney ordered up timeouts. He shook up the lineups. He changed up the defensive assignments.. Call it a futile pursuit.
The Bison did not get many second chances, either. They had two offensive rebounds in the half. There also was the matter of turnovers — Howard had eight in the opening half that Duke converted into 12 points.
Scheyer obviously liked what he was seeing. He stayed seated for much of the game, sipping water, making his points. No pacing the sideline, although a few sloppy plays in the second half did get him up, hands on hips.
According to the KenPom.com rankings, Duke is in the top eight nationally in offensive efficiency (124.8, third) and defensive efficiency (93.3, eighth).
Sarr offers Devils versatility
Duke freshman Dame Sarr has such versatility as a player. He’s thin but ultra quick. He can blanket his man on defense. He can run the floor, handle the ball, shoot the 3.
Sarr will make some mistakes and did Sunday. He had a turnover after he double-clutched on a shot, and later pushed off in grabbing an offensive rebound.
Sarr and Maliq Brown give the Devils two lookalike wing forwards, both about 6-8 with long wingspans, who can be suffocating defenders.
“They’re scary on the court together,” Cayden Boozer said. “They’re both very active with their hands and get so many deflections.”
Asked his role on the team, Sarr said. “I don’t think there are defined roles on this team. I think everyone can do a little of everything, and we try to bring energy every day.”
This story was originally published November 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM.
