3 Kansas Players To Monitor in Duke Basketball’s Final Exhibition

The Duke Blue Devils will wrap up preseason play with an exhibition game against No. 17 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday (1:00 pm ET, ESPN).

Through two preseason contests at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Blue Devils have looked practically unbeatable. Duke defeated Belmont 102-62 in a scrimmage on Oct. 8, then ran No. 8 Tennessee out of the building on Tuesday night, 103-64.

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Given it’s still October, Jon Scheyer’s club already looks very far along, specifically on the defensive end of the floor. Although, the Jayhawks could pose the toughest challenge yet for the Blue Devils. Kansas has played two exhibition games, defeating Division II Pittsburg State 80-62 and losing to Louisville on Wednesday, 89-83.

Here are three Jayhawks to monitor ahead of Duke’s final preseason contest.

Kansas Jayhawks guard Melvin Council Jr. (14) looks for a pass against Louisville Cardinals during the exhibition game inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas on Oct. 21, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Melvin Council Jr.

Returning veteran Melvin Council is one of a few key players Bill Self brought back via the courts, as Council was granted a preliminary injunction to play this season and return to Kansas. A season ago, Council was a key player on a Kansas team that earned a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 12.7 points and 5.1 assists per game on 39.2% shooting from the field.

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With the addition of Council and Kansas’ other newly eligible players, the Jayhawks’ 2026-27 ceiling is clearly much higher. Council and Tre White were two fifth-year returnees for Kansas, and they were arguably the best players on the floor on Wednesday night against the Cardinals.

Council went for 20 points, six boards, and four assists on 8-of-15 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range. He’s a high-level floor general and really got things going for the Jayhawks on Wednesday night. Council was a fan favorite in Lawrence last season because of his…

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Publish date : 2026-10-24 12:26:00

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