3 Under-the-Radar Performances From Duke Basketball’s Win Over Belmont

The Duke basketball program validated the preseason hype in its first in-game action of the 2026-27 season.

The Blue Devils defeated Belmont 102-62 in a scrimmage at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday night. Duke’s plethora of talent, depth, and size on the roster, which was discussed heavily throughout the preseason, was on display for the first time.

Oct 3, 2026; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) drives the ball down court during the Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

I think this is head coach Jon Scheyer’s most championship-ready team since he took over for the Blue Devils, and although it’s only been one scrimmage, it’s hard not to view the Blue Devils as a legit national title contender.

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Sophomore Dame Sarr and freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje made headlines with their respective outings, but a few other Blue Devils flashed in some under-the-radar performances. Let’s go through a few of them.

Mar 30, 2026; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Deron Rippey Jr (0) during the McDonalds All American Jam Fest at Millennium High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Deron Rippey Jr.

5-star freshman point guard Deron Rippey Jr. is in a unique spot. He was one of the best guard recruits in the 2026 recruiting class, but he will play reserve minutes as a freshman. The other guards he has the opportunity to learn from this year will be fantastic for his long-term development, but he’ll be a part of the rotation this season.

Rippey finished with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 22 minutes. His defensive intensity stood out right away. He makes up for any height limitations with his intense physicality on the defensive perimeter, and his high-level athleticism is easy to notice.

Mar 30, 2026; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Deron Rippey Jr (0) during the McDonalds All American Jam Fest at Millennium High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark…

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

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