What Stood Out in Duke Basketball’s Lopsided Win Over Belmont

The Duke Blue Devils looked fantastic across the board in their first action of the 2026-27 college basketball season.

Duke kicked off the year with a dominant 102-62 victory over Belmont in a scrimmage at Cameron Indoor Stadium. After all the hype and expectations around this team throughout the offseason, it impressed in its first in-game action.

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Considering this was the first time this Duke team was actually on the floor against another team, its ceiling come postseason time is sky-high. Here’s what stood out in the Blue Devils’ win over the Bruins.

Oct 3, 2026; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (30) during the Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje Is Must-See TV

After Boumtje Boumtje committed to Duke, I said that I thought he was the highest-ceiling recruit that Jon Scheyer has had since taking over in Durham. After his first college basketball game, he could become a star sooner than many anticipated.

Boumtje Boumtje didn’t take long to acclimate to college basketball; he looked like one of the best players on the floor from the opening tip. The 7’1″ rookie finished his first collegiate outing with a game-high 19 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 shooting from three-point range.

The rookie impacted winning in many different ways and already looks like one of this team’s best players. Considering Boumtje Boumtje is still 17 years old and must spend at least two seasons in college basketball, his long-term ceiling is scary.

Oct 7, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer answers questions from the media during the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Duke Will Be an Elite Defensive Team

There’s no reason this team can’t be the best defensive squad in college basketball. Even…

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Publish date : 2026-10-09 11:02:00

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