After much anticipation, Duke's nonconference schedule is now official.
Duke announced its 11-game nonconference slate for the 2022-23 season Thursday morning, setting in stone the first part of head coach Jon Scheyer's first season at the helm. The Blue Devils will travel the country across November and December with previously announced marquee matchups set against Kansas, Ohio State and Iowa.
Duke officially opens its campaign Nov. 7 at home against Jacksonville, although its season debut will come after the annual Countdown to Craziness event Oct. 21 and a Nov. 2 exhibition match against Fayetteville State at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils then face USC Upstate Nov. 11 before hitting the road for the first time as a team.
In a true early-season test, Duke will meet reigning national champion Kansas in the annual Champions Classic Nov. 15 in Indianapolis. The Jayhawks and Blue Devils were both Final Four teams in 2021-22 and appear to have the tools for another deep run this upcoming season.
In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, the Blue Devils will welcome Delaware and Bellarmine to Durham Nov. 18 and Nov. 21, respectively. Then, Duke heads west to Portland, Ore., for the Phil Knight Legacy, where it will face Oregon State in the first round of an eight-team bracket Nov. 24. Any second-round matchup for the Blue Devils would come Nov. 25 against Florida or Xavier while the other side of the bracket features West Virginia, Purdue, Portland State and Gonzaga. Should Duke successfully navigate its own side of the bracket, it will meet one of those four teams Nov. 27 for the championship.
After Portland, the Blue Devils will travel back home for an ACC/Big Ten Challenge rematch against Ohio State. The Buckeyes handed Duke its first loss in 2021-22, giving this season's matchup an extra bit of excitement despite heavy roster turnover on both sides.
Duke's nonconference slate draws to a close with a Dec. 6 Madison Square Garden matchup against Iowa in the Jimmy V Classic, then a tilt with Maryland Eastern Shore Dec. 10 in Cameron Indoor.
This article was updated July 25 following the announcement of the PK85 bracket.
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Jonathan Levitan is a Trinity senior and was previously sports editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume.