Game Preview: Duke vs. Michigan State

#2 Duke Blue Devils (2-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. Michigan State Spartans (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 • 8:00 p.m. ET
United Center • Chicago, IL
TV: ESPN
Radio: Blue Devil Sports Network from LEARFIELD

Tuesday the Blue Devils travel to Chicago to take on a ranked Michigan State Spartans team at the United Center for the State Farm Champions Classic. Duke has a record of 41-24 (.631) all-time when both teams are ranked in the top five, including a 2-1 mark against Michigan State in that scenario. The Blue Devils lead the series with Michigan State, 16-4, with Duke winning 11 of the last 13 meetings since 2010, including three straight victories.

2025–26 Season Recap

Duke enters the 2026–27 campaign coming off another outstanding season under Jon Scheyer, finishing 35–3 overall and 17–1 in ACC play. The Blue Devils captured both the ACC regular-season and tournament championships before advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, where their season ended with a heartbreaking 73–72 loss to UConn. Duke was one of the nation’s most balanced teams, averaging 81.6 points per game while allowing just 63.6, ranking among the country’s best defensive teams.

Despite losing significant production from last year’s roster, including its two leading scorers, Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans, Duke returns four of its top six scorers in Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer, and Dame Sarr. That returning group gives Scheyer an experienced foundation, while the additions of several impact transfers and an intriguing freshman class provide the Blue Devils with plenty of options. The biggest questions will revolve around how quickly the newcomers adjust and how Duke replaces the scoring and leadership of the players who moved on.

Newcomers

Duke added nine newcomers for 2026–27, including three transfers and six freshmen. The group gives Scheyer additional backcourt depth, frontcourt size and several players who could factor into the rotation.

• John Blackwell – Transfer from Wisconsin; experienced guard expected to provide immediate scoring and perimeter production.

• Drew Scharnowski – Transfer from Belmont; 6’10 forward who averaged 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds last season and earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.

• Jacob Theodosiou – Transfer from Loyola Maryland; 6’4 guard who averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists last season.

• Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje – 7’2 freshman forward/center with international experience.

• Bryson Howard – 6’4 freshman wing and former top-15 national recruit.

• Maxime Meyer – 7’1 freshman center from Canada.

• Deron Rippey Jr. – Highly regarded freshman point guard from Brooklyn.

• Cameron Williams – 7’0 freshman forward from Arizona.

• Nick Arnold – Freshman guard from North Carolina.

Last Time Out

Duke heads into Tuesday’s Champions Classic matchup coming off a dominant 113-52 victory over Coastal Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils put together one of their most complete performances of the young season, shooting efficiently while establishing control on both ends of the floor. Patrick Ngongba II led the way with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Caleb Foster added 15 points and Cayden Boozer finished with 11 points and 12 assists. Duke also received balanced contributions throughout the lineup, with all 13 players seeing action as the Blue Devils improved to 2-0 on the season.

2025–26 Season Recap

Michigan State put together another strong campaign under Tom Izzo in 2025-26, finishing 27-8 overall and 15-5 in Big Ten play. The Spartans finished tied for second in the conference standings and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Led by point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who emerged as one of the nation’s top playmakers, Michigan State remained competitive throughout the season and earned another deep postseason run.

Newcomers

Michigan State adds five newcomers, highlighted by four highly regarded freshmen and a veteran frontcourt transfer. The group gives Izzo additional size and perimeter talent as the Spartans look to replace several key contributors.

• Jasiah Jervis, G, Freshman: The headliner of the recruiting class, Jervis was a top-40 national prospect and the 2026 New York Gatorade Player of the Year. He averaged 17.4 points as a senior and brings scoring ability and perimeter shooting.

• Ethan Taylor, C, Freshman: A 7-foot-2 center with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Taylor was a top-50 national recruit and gives Michigan State another option in the paint.

• Carlos Medlock Jr., G, Freshman: A highly regarded point guard who averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 assists at Link Academy. He adds another ball-handler alongside Fears.

• Julius Avent, F, Freshman: A 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 14.3 points while helping Bergen Catholic to a 27-5 record and a state championship.

• Anton Bonke, C, Graduate Transfer: The Spartans’ lone transfer addition, Bonke arrives from Charlotte after averaging 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds. At 7-foot-2 and 270 pounds, he provides valuable size and experience in the frontcourt.

Last Time Out

Michigan State also enters the matchup at 2-0 after defeating Toledo, 91-61, on Nov. 5. The Spartans followed up a 96-59 season-opening win over Quinnipiac with another convincing performance at the Breslin Center, building momentum ahead of their first major test of the season. The victory gives Tom Izzo’s team a two-game winning streak heading into the Champions Classic, where the Spartans will face a second-ranked Duke team at the United Center in Chicago.

The Spartans shot 50.9% from the field, outrebounded Toledo 52-27, and scored 27 second-chance points. Freshman Jasiah Jervis’ 16 points were a career high, while Anton Bonke added 11 points and 13 rebounds. Michigan State also opened the game with a 17-0 run and carried a 48-25 advantage into halftime. Michigan State returns Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr but must replace significant frontcourt production following the departures of Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler. Bonke and Taylor will be important pieces in addressing those losses, while Jervis gives Izzo another potential perimeter scoring threat.

Patrick Ngongba II vs. Anton Bonke

This could be the most important individual matchup of the night. Ngongba is coming off a 28-point, nine-rebound performance against Coastal Carolina and gives Duke a legitimate interior scoring threat. Bonke, a 7-foot-2 graduate transfer from Charlotte, provides Michigan State with size and experience in the paint after averaging 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds last season. If Ngongba can establish himself early, it could force the Spartans to devote additional defensive attention to the post and open opportunities for Duke’s perimeter players.

Jeremy Fears Jr. vs. Duke’s Backcourt

Fears is the engine behind Michigan State’s offense and one of the country’s best distributors. He averaged 15.2 points and 9.4 assists last season and has already recorded 20 assists through the Spartans’ first two games. Duke will need a collective effort from Caleb Foster, John Blackwell, and Dame Sarr to keep him out of the lane, limit his ability to create for others, and prevent Michigan State from dictating the pace. Allowing Fears to get comfortable could make life difficult for the Blue Devils’ defense.

John Blackwell vs. Michigan State’s Perimeter Defense

Blackwell gives Duke an experienced scoring option who knows what it takes to compete in the Big Ten after transferring from Wisconsin, where he averaged 19.1 points per game. He has the ability to score at all three levels and take pressure off Ngongba in the half court. Michigan State will likely look to make him work for his opportunities and prevent him from finding an offensive rhythm. How well Blackwell handles that defensive attention could have a major impact on Duke’s offensive efficiency.

1. Keep Jeremy Fears Jr. Out of the Paint

Michigan State is at its best when Fears controls the offense, gets into the lane and creates opportunities for his teammates. Duke’s guards must apply pressure without giving him easy driving lanes. Limiting his penetration and making other Spartans create their own offense should be a priority for the Blue Devils.

2. Win the Battle on the Glass

Duke has a size advantage across much of its rotation, but Michigan State is a physical rebounding team. The Spartans outrebounded Toledo 52-27 in their last outing, while Duke collected 53 rebounds against Coastal Carolina. Ngongba and the Blue Devils’ frontcourt must finish defensive possessions, limit second-chance opportunities and turn their size into an advantage on the offensive glass.

3. Establish the Interior Offense

Ngongba’s ability to score around the basket could be a major difference-maker. Duke should look to get him involved early, make Bonke defend in the post and force Michigan State to decide how much help it wants to send. If the Blue Devils can consistently generate points inside, it should create more room for Blackwell, Foster and the rest of the perimeter rotation.

4. Take Care of the Basketball

Michigan State has a veteran point guard in Fears who can turn defensive stops into easy transition opportunities. Duke needs to avoid careless turnovers, make sound decisions against pressure, and keep the Spartans from getting out in the open floor. Against a team that is comfortable playing through its point guard, limiting live-ball turnovers will be especially important.

5. Make Michigan State Defend for 40 Minutes

Duke has plenty of offensive options, including Blackwell’s scoring, Ngongba’s interior presence and the playmaking of Boozer and Foster. The Blue Devils should use their depth and versatility to attack different areas of the floor rather than becoming too reliant on one player. Forcing Michigan State to defend multiple actions and matchups could wear down the Spartans over the course of the game.

Michigan State has the advantage in continuity, with Fears leading an experienced group, while Duke has the size, depth, and offensive versatility to create matchup problems. If the Blue Devils control the glass, keep Fears from dictating the game, establish Ngongba inside, and most importantly, take care of the basketball better than they have in their first two outings, they should put themselves in a strong position to earn a statement win in Chicago in what will be an electric atmosphere with a Final Four feel.