ACC , Duke MBB

Duke Opens Home Slate With Belmont Scrimmage at Cameron: HOW TO WATCH, SERIES HISTORY & WHAT TO EXPECT

The Blue Devils’ first official game day at Cameron Indoor Stadium arrives Thursday night, and it comes with a twist: the opponent is coached by a former Duke assistant. The graphic confirms the matchup as an open scrimmage, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ACCNX.

How to watch

  • When: Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, N.C.
  • TV/stream: The game airs on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).

The coaching storyline

Belmont is led by first-year coach Evan Bradds, who served as an assistant at Duke in 2025-26. He replaces Casey Alexander. One writer notes Bradds is just 32 and has worked under Brad Stevens, the Utah Jazz and Jon Scheyer.

There’s another connection: Drew Scharnowski, who played the past three seasons at Belmont, is now at Duke.

Series history

The programs have met only twice, and Duke won both by a single point. The Blue Devils beat Belmont 71-70 in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, and 77-76 in 2011. Scrimmages don’t count toward the record, so Duke remains 2-0 in official games.

Betting odds

I couldn’t find any betting lines for this game. That’s typical, since scrimmages are generally not offered by sportsbooks, and the result carries no official standing. Odds for the regular season should come later.

Duke players to watch

Six players return, including Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II and Dame Sarr, and nine newcomers join them. Names worth watching:

  • Caleb Foster (G): a returning guard who figures to help lead the backcourt.
  • Patrick Ngongba II (C): the returning big man anchoring the interior.
  • John Blackwell (G): a transfer who debuted at the Countdown to Craziness.
  • Cameron Williams (PF): a freshman who is 7-0 but only 215 pounds, so his physical development is a storyline.
  • Drew Scharnowski: the ex-Belmont transfer facing his old team.

Duke also has the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class, so the freshmen will draw attention.

Belmont players to watch

Belmont went 26-6, won the Missouri Valley regular season title and ranked first nationally in effective field goal percentage. Six veterans return:

  • Isaiah West: a 6-2 senior guard and a leader of the returning group.
  • Jabez Jenkins: a 6-4 junior.
  • Eoin Dillon (6-9) and Graydon Lemke (6-10): juniors who give Belmont size up front.
  • Cooper Haynes and Jack Smiley: returning guards.

Among the newcomers, Vincent Neugebauer is a 7-1 transfer from FAU, and Kayden Fish arrives from Ball State.

What to expect

One preview expects Belmont to move the ball well, space the floor and play physically with strong ball pressure. With seven new players and a first-year coach, it’s hard to know what to expect. Remember that this is a scrimmage, so the lineups, minutes and format may be unusual, and the score matters little.

What’s next

Duke’s preseason slate also includes a home exhibition against Tennessee and a road game at Kansas. The Tennessee game is scheduled for October 20 and Kansas for October 25.