Duke to Hosts Niagara, Howard for Brotherhood Run

A trio of former Duke men’s basketball team captains will reunite at Cameron Indoor Stadium the weekend of Nov. 21-23, when Jon Scheyer‘s Blue Devils host Niagara, led by head coach Greg Paulus, and Howard, led by head coach Kenneth Blakeney, in the return of the Brotherhood Run.

Duke will face Niagara on Friday, Nov. 21, and Howard on Sunday, Nov. 23, while the visiting Purple Eagles and Bison will square off on Saturday, Nov. 22. Game times and TV broadcast details will be announced at a later date.

The event will mark Duke’s first hardwood meetings with both Niagara and Howard.

“We’re excited to bring back the Brotherhood Run this season,” Scheyer said. “It’s a powerful way for our team to connect with the deeper meaning of wearing a Duke uniform. Expanding the event gives us a great opportunity to grow that connection. Having Kenny Blakeney and Greg Paulus return as head coaches adds even more to the experience for our players and for everyone who’s part of the Brotherhood.”

Paulus had a standout four-year playing career at Duke (2005-09), including three seasons as a teammate of Scheyer. A three-year starter and two-time captain, he helped the Blue Devils to a 112-28 record, two ACC championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. He led the team in assists three consecutive seasons (2006-08), finishing with 468 career assists – top 10 all-time at Duke – and scoring 1,193 points.

Entering his seventh season as Niagara’s head coach, Paulus has guided the Purple Eagles to 78 wins, including a pair of 16-win campaigns. He became the first Niagara coach since 2009 to earn back-to-back first-round byes in the MAAC Championship, leading the team to the program’s first MAAC semifinal appearance in eight years in 2021 and another in 2023.

Blakeney was a four-year letterwinner at Duke (1991-95), helping the Blue Devils to a 99-34 record and three 20-win seasons. He was a redshirt member of Duke’s 1990-91 national championship team and a key contributor on the 1991-92 NCAA championship squad that finished 34-2. As a junior, he played in 27 games en route to another NCAA title game appearance. He served as a team captain in 1994-95, averaging 5.4 points per game.

In six seasons as Howard’s head coach, Blakeney has amassed 73 wins and led the Bison to back-to-back MEAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024. He was named the 2022-23 MEAC Coach of the Year after guiding Howard to 22 victories, the program’s highest win total in 36 years.