Ahead of Duke’s massive matchup against Arizona, the Blue Zone breaks down Friday's encounter in our latest opponent preview: 

Overview 

2023-24 record: 27-9, 15-5 in the Pac-12

2024-25 record: 2-1

Head coach: Tommy Lloyd

Series history: Arizona leads 6-4

Last meeting: 78-73, Arizona, Nov. 10, 2024

Last year, Arizona defeated Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium off the back of a strong start and consistent offensive dominance. Following the win, the Wildcats proved to be a force in the regular season, finishing with a 27-9 record and winning the Pac-12 conference. Despite earning the second seed in the West region of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Arizona lost to Clemson 77-72 in the Sweet 16. 

So far this season, Duke’s success has centered around its ability to shoot efficiently. Last week, in the face of pressure from No. 9 Kentucky, the Blue Devils came up short-handed largely due to their 3-point-shooting struggles. In the Champions Classic, Duke made 16.7% of its threes, whereas Kentucky converted on 40% of its shots from beyond the arc. On the same note, Arizona stumbled in its recent loss against Wisconsin largely due to similar deficiencies, as the Wildcats landed only 17.4 % of their 3-pointers. The deciding factor Friday will likely be which team overcomes their opponent’s fast-moving defense and efficiently converts on its shots from beyond the arc. -Ava Guglielmo

X-Factor

Duke: Caleb Foster

Foster has become a vocal force for the Blue Devils, standing out on his podcast and as a leader. With a team defined by talented freshmen, the sophomore has embraced a new leadership role — setting the tone offensively and using his experience to guide the team.

Last season, Foster showed strong potential, averaging 7.7 points and 2.1 assists per game until a February ankle injury ended his campaign. The 6-foot-5 sophomore has returned to the court demonstrating that he is back and better. Averaging 9.8 points and 3.0 assists per game, Foster has proven his ability to get in the paint and set up scoring avenues for his teammates. However, with even higher point averages per game, the Harrisburg, N.C., native’s 3-point and free-throw percentages have fallen — meaning there is still potential to fulfill. If Foster can capitalize on these opportunities against Arizona, the Blue Devils will have the chance to disrupt the Wildcats’ rhythm and institute action on the offense. Arizona plays with intensity, taking advantage of teams in transition. Duke fell into a similar trap against Kentucky, so as it faces another set of Wildcats, Foster’s presence as an experienced leader will be critical to ensure the Blue Devils act with precision and organization. The starting sophomore could be the difference between a calibrated win and a missed opportunity in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona: Tobe Awaka

Rebounds can make or break a game, and Awaka has demonstrated the reality of that statement. In his first season with the Wildcats, the Tennessee transfer has showcased expertise around the board, proving he could be a true threat to the Blue Devils. 

The junior leads the team in rebounding, averaging 12.3 boards per game — ranking third in NCAA men’s college basketball. Against Old Dominion, Awaka delivered a dominant double-double with 15 rebounds and 18 points, then returned the next game to secure another 13 rebounds against Wisconsin. His presence around the glass has propelled Arizona to the second-highest rebound total per game. Standing at 6-foot-8, the Hyde Park, N.Y., native excels at creating second-chance opportunities and fueling a high-paced offense. Awaka’s ability to extend possessions and limit opponents’ scoring chances will be critical as Arizona faces Duke. Last week, Kentucky transformed the Blue Devils’ missed shots into advantageous transition situations. Awaka’s elite rebounding could recreate that chaos, forcing Duke into a defensive scramble and positioning the Blue Devils to fall to another team of Wildcats. — Lucy Glynn

3 keys

Capitalize on offense: Duke could not find the net last Tuesday night in its most recent ranked matchup against then-No. 19 Kentucky, shooting 4-of-24 from distance and 39.4% from the field. While their mark improved to 48.4% shooting in Saturday’s outing against Wofford, the Blue Devils will need to turn it on against an Arizona offense that has scored at 94.3 points per game in three matchups. Freshman Kon Knueppel has burst out the gate so far this season, averaging 14.8 points per game and shooting 38.5% from deep. Duke will rely on hot-handed shooters to keep pace with the home team.

As has been the refrain since he committed to Duke, freshman Cooper Flagg will lead the charge on offense, averaging 16.3 points per game. Flagg dropped 26 against Kentucky but struggled from behind the arc, shooting just 20%. After a strong debut in a Duke uniform on national television with a few stumbles in the final minutes — two mishandled possessions against the Wildcats — Flagg will have to show once again that he’s ready for the moment Friday night.

Interior defense: Though Arizona has struggled from behind the arc so far this season, the Wildcats have still managed to produce on the inside. Big men Khaman Maluach and Maliq Brown will have to protect the paint for the Blue Devils while staying out of foul trouble. The Wildcats boast shifty guards with experience in Caleb Love and Jaden Bradley who will look to draw fouls in the paint, but Duke has stayed mostly out of foul trouble while significantly outscoring opponents down low to this point this season. 

The Wildcats have also crashed the boards at a high clip, grabbing offensive rebounds at just under a 50% rate to extend possessions. Maluach and Brown are two of Duke’s leading rebounders on the season and will have to create opportunities for Duke’s offense by taking the ball out of the hands of Arizona.

Responding to adversity: Though Duke had the opportunity to rebound against Wofford Saturday afternoon with a 86-35 throttling, the Blue Devils haven’t faced another Power 4 or ranked team since Tuesday’s loss. Junior Tyrese Proctor, the Blue Devils’ most experienced starter, will look to guide a young lineup in finding its footing in high-pressure games. Arizona is coming off a lopsided 103-88 loss to No. 19 Wisconsin, so the Wildcats find themselves in similar circumstances heading into Friday’s matchup.

For the returners, though, Duke additionally faces undoubted bad blood with Love, a fifth-year guard who transferred to the Wildcats from North Carolina in 2023 after leading the Tar Heels to a victory in the Final Four against the Blue Devils the year before. Though no current starters played in legendary former head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game against Love and North Carolina, the matchup is certainly etched into the memory of both fans and the program. 

Love returned to Cameron Indoor Stadium with Arizona last season, handing head coach Jon Scheyer his first home loss in a close 78-73 contest. On top of that, he holds a 7-2 record against the squad from Durham all-time. Duke will look to get one back in its ongoing series with Arizona and to give Love a sendoff to remember in his final year of eligibility. -Sarah Muir