Why Tennessee Exhibition Good Early Test for Duke Basketball

The Duke Blue Devils looked like a serious contender in their first in-game action of the 2026-27 college basketball season.

Last week, the Blue Devils defeated Belmont 102-62 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in their first scrimmage of the year. There was a lot to like from Duke on both sides of the ball, though it’s important not to take too much away from scrimmages or exhibition games.

Oct 7, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils Patrick Ngongba II (21) answers questions from the media during the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jon Scheyer’s club operated at an extremely high level defensively, had plenty of scoring options, and played with all-out effort throughout the contest. Duke certainly validated the preseason hype in its first action.

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Next, Scheyer and Co. will face Rick Barnes and Tennessee in an exhibition on Oct. 20 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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

Why Tennessee Is a Good Early Test for Duke Basketball

This year’s Tennessee club is built a bit differently than what Barnes has done in past years. Typically, the Volunteers have won with defense and have boasted one of the best defenses in college basketball over the last several years. Tennessee has ranked inside the top 15 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, in each season since 2021, and inside the top five in five of those years.

This time around, Barnes’ roster looks poised to win with offense, and the Vols could be one of the most prolific scoring teams in the country. Barnes and his staff were very active in the transfer portal this offseason, building the nation’s No. 3-ranked portal class, according to 247Sports. Those portal additions offer good size and major scoring potential.

Tennessee…

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Publish date : 2026-10-14 10:00:00

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