Nov 4, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Isaiah Evans (3) shoots a free throw in opposition to the Texas Longhorns through the first half of the Dick Vitale’s Invitational recreation at Spectrum Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Pictures There ought to be loads of new personnel for No. 6 Duke to indicate off when it performs its residence opener Saturday afternoon in opposition to Western Carolina in Durham, N.C.
And maybe it will not simply be freshmen who stand out for the Blue Devils.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Evans demonstrated he is prepared for a heightened function when he scored a career-high 23 factors because the Blue Devils opened the season with a 75-60 victory over Texas on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C.
“I assumed we confirmed nice battle,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. “Clearly, there’s rather a lot we will do higher and clear up. … Lineups, rotations, issues we’re doing, it is a big-time evolution. The place we’re going, it is a great distance away from the place we’re versus the place we’re going.”
Evans made 4 3-point pictures within the opener. Mixed with final season, the Blue Devils are 12-0 when he connects on three or extra 3-pointers.
“His effectivity was excessive stage,” Scheyer mentioned. “He creates a lot gravity, the place guys are involved with him, that opened rather a lot up for our group.”
Duke nonetheless has extremely touted freshman Cameron Boozer to placed on show. He had 15 second-half factors within the Texas recreation after he was shut out within the first half. He completed 9 of 12 from the free-throw line.
Western Carolina, in the meantime, is coming off a 94-63 season-opening loss Monday at Cincinnati. Second-year Catamounts coach Tim Craft mentioned difficult video games early within the season are a part of the norm for applications corresponding to his.
“You are making an attempt to play one of the best you may play,” Craft mentioned. “You are making an attempt finally to go in there and win that recreation. That is what your focus is. It would not get any simpler for us.”
Wire Stansberry posted 23 factors — one level off his profession excessive — in half-hour for the Catamounts in opposition to Cincinnati. He was the one Western Carolina participant to play and begin in each recreation final season.
However there’s not lots of expertise on Western Carolina.
“We obtained into foul bother, and so we needed to play some rotations that we’ve not performed hardly even in observe,” Craft mentioned. “That is a part of getting out right here and figuring it out.”
After 14 first-half turnovers in opposition to Cincinnati, the Catamounts have a number of areas to handle.
“Second half was higher for us,” Craft mentioned. “We have been in a position to maintain the ball somewhat higher and have a few runs there that hopefully we will take as positives.”
In Duke’s recreation in opposition to Texas, Maliq Brown got here off the bench after lacking preseason video games due to an ailing knee. He had three factors and one rebound in 13 minutes and may very well be prepared for extra obligation vs. Western Carolina.
“It is nice to see him again on the market,” Scheyer mentioned. “Clearly, he is nonetheless working by means of rather a lot.”
Saturday’s recreation would be the first of 4 November residence contests for Duke, which went 17-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium final season. The Blue Devils have received their previous 43 residence openers.
–Discipline Degree Media
