The Blue Devils return the majority of their core from last season and will look to make their way back to the NCAA tournament.
Now we know who stands in Duke's way.
Back in late July, the nonconference schedule was made public. Then Tuesday morning, the ACC schedule was announced, and the 2019-20 season’s slate was officially set in stone.
After the Blue Devils encounter three nonconference opponents that made the NCAA tournament last season—Texas A&M, South Carolina and Florida Gulf Coast—Duke will face seven ACC foes that accomplished that feat a year ago.
Key matchups:
1. Jan. 2 vs. Wake Forest
After a road contest against Florida Gulf Coast Dec. 28 to conclude the nonconference slate, Duke will return home to Cameron Indoor Stadium against Wake Forest Jan. 2. The Demon Deacons finished last season with a 10-20 record and earned only one conference victory. In the two matchups between the in-state opponents, Duke won by 14 points at home behind Leaonna Odom’s 20 points and notched an 11-point win on the road.
2. Jan. 5 at Louisville/Jan. 9 at Virginia
After the quick home stint, the Blue Devils will return to the road for a pair of matchups with Louisville and Virginia on Jan. 5 and Jan. 9, respectively. The Cardinals enter this season off of a 34-win Elite 8 run halted by a seven-point defeat to Connecticut. Duke lost its only matchup with both Louisville and Virginia, a 12-win team, a year ago.
3. Jan. 16 vs. Notre Dame
In the second and final game of the short homestand, Duke will host defending national runner-up Notre Dame, who bested the Blue Devils in South Bend, Ind., last February. The Fighting Irish made history last April as they became the first program to have all five starters selected in the first 20 picks of the WNBA Draft. But Notre Dame did bring in two of the premiere freshmen in this year’s freshman class and will look to continue their success under Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw.
4. Feb. 24 at North Carolina State
In their third-to-last game of the regular season, the Blue Devils will make the short trek to Raleigh, to face N.C. State. The meeting will be one of the most anticipated on the season as N.C. State enters this season after a 28-win campaign that ended in the Sweet 16 with a loss to Iowa.
5. Feb. 6 vs. North Carolina/March 1 at North Carolina
Last season, the Blue Devils swept the Tar Heels in convincing fashion with a 16-point road win followed up by a 18-point victory at home against a tournament team. North Carolina hired a new coach in former Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart. The current Tar Heel coach led the 2014-15 Princeton team that went undefeated through the regular season and the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to top-seeded Maryland in the second round.
Full ACC schedule:
Dec. 8 vs. Boston College
Jan. 2 vs. Wake Forest
Jan. 5 at Louisville
Jan. 9 at Virginia
Jan. 12 vs. Virginia Tech
Jan. 16 vs. Notre Dame
Jan. 19 at Clemson
Jan. 23 at Syracuse
Jan. 26 vs. Georgia Tech.
Feb. 2 vs. N.C. State
Feb. 6 vs. North Carolina
Feb. 9 at Miami
Feb. 13 at Pittsburgh
Feb. 16 vs. Florida State
Feb. 20 vs. Virginia
Feb. 24 at N.C. State
Feb. 27 at Virginia Tech
March 1 at North Carolina
March 4-8 ACC tournament
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