The Duke Blue Devils officially open up their 116th season, 41st for Mike Krzyzewski, versus Coppin State (MEAC) Saturday evening – after the previously scheduled Gardner-Webb contest was postponed due to a positive Covid-19
test. The game is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. tip off and will be broadcasted on the ACC Network and available over radio airwaves on the Blue Devils Sports Network.
Duke returns sophomore Wendell Moore Jr. and Matthew Hurt – both receiving
Pre-season All ACC team honors.
Leading the backcourt, senior point guard Jordan Goldwire is expected to run the show with freshman Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward to play large minutes.
The Blue Devils’ 2nd ranked incoming class features six freshman and the program’s first ever grad-transfer, Patrick Tape. Duke, on paper, has depth and the rumor is that sophomore Matthew Hurt will play a lot at the five position this season. If this is true, Hurt and Duke will play their version of “small-ball,” which allows Hurt, who shot just short of 40 percent from 3 during his freshman campaign, to extend the opposing team’s front-court outside the paint.
Duke men’s basketball team has been very vocal – stating their overall stance on systematic oppression and social inequality during preseason workouts. Duke will wear the home white’s tomorrow (first time since defeating UNC in the home finale last season) with the words “Equality” on the back of the jerseys.
Beast of the East
• This marks the very first meeting between Duke and Coppin State
• Duke is 18-0 all-time versus the MEAC
• 20-0 in the last 20 season openers
Coppin State is coached by former Maryland Terrapin and National Champion Juan Dixon. Notably, Dixon was a part of the 2001 Final Four – Maryland’s first ever. The Terps led Duke by 22 at one point, with the Blue Devils making one of the largest comebacks in Final Four History – defeating the Terps 95-84. Duke would eventually go on to defeat Arizona in the National Championship game 82-72.
Coppin State returns senior guard Koby Thomas, who averaged 13 and 6 last
season, shooting 47 percent from the field.