The time is now for Duke to contend with a veteran backcourt, and the Blue Devils will get an early look at how they stack up against a couple of the best teams in the nation.
Duke's full nonconference slate was reported by the Durham Herald-Sun's Steve Wiseman and confirmed by a team spokesman Wednesday. The schedule is highlighted by a showdown against reigning national champion South Carolina Dec. 3, a home game against Oregon State Nov. 25 and an ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup against Ohio State Nov. 30.
The Blue Devils upset the Gamecocks at home last season and will face off against them for the fourth straight season. The Beavers made the Final Four in 2016, and the Buckeyes have made the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament the last two seasons.
McCallie's squad will play four true road games, opening the season at Grand Canyon Nov. 12 in Phoenix and visiting South Carolina, Villanova and Old Dominion. Grand Canyon played the Blue Devils in Durham last season when the Antelopes had former Duke center Krystal Thomas on their coaching staff, but she was not retained when head coach Trent May was let go in March.
The Blue Devils' home opener is against High Point Nov. 16 and will round out their home schedule with Presbyterian, UNC Greensboro, Winthrop, Maine, Wyoming and Liberty.
The ACC schedule will be released in September.
Duke's 2017-18 nonconference schedule (Road games in italics):
Oct. 22—Blue/White Scrimmage
Nov. 5—Alaska-Anchorage (Exhibition)
Nov. 12—at Grand Canyon
Nov. 16—High Point
Nov. 19—at Villanova
Nov. 22—at Old Dominion
Nov. 25—Oregon State
Nov. 26—Presbyterian
Nov. 30—Ohio State
Dec. 3—at South Carolina
Dec. 7—UNC Greensboro
Dec. 10—Winthrop
Dec. 19—Maine
Dec. 21—Wyoming
Dec. 29—Liberty
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