Duke Routs Belmont 102-62 in Exhibition Opener
Duke opened its home exhibition slate with a dominant win over Belmont, the team coached by former Blue Devils assistant Evan Bradds, even without two key players. The article contains no direct quotes from players or coaches, so none appear below beyond a short phrase from an embedded post.
The setup
After last weekend’s short scrimmage at Countdown to Craziness, Thursday night was the first of three home exhibitions. Duke played without Caleb Foster and Drew Scharnowski and still won 102-62.
Coach Jon Scheyer described the offense as a work in progress, but it looked sharp for one night.
Four takeaways
1. Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje lived up to the hype
The 17-year-old freshman looked like the best player on the floor for long stretches after a quieter showing in last weekend’s scrimmage. His line:
- 19 points, tied for the team high
- 7-of-11 shooting
- Six rebounds and two blocks
His three-point shot looked smooth, and he used his size inside as well, showing a real inside-out game. An embedded post noted he scored 10 points in his first seven minutes of college basketball and labeled him a “7’1 sniper.” The writer cautions that it won’t always be this easy, but says his potential is limitless.
2. Dame Sarr’s all-around game took a step forward
Sarr’s offseason focus was assumed to be his three-point shot, since he projects as a three-and-D wing. Against Belmont, he showed more than that:
- More comfort off the dribble
- Creative drives and passes
- Consistent finishing at the rim on the way to 19 points
He also looks noticeably stronger, and the writer sees him as poised for a big year.
3. John Blackwell is a natural scorer
The Wisconsin transfer scores in a way that seems effortless. He had 17 points without appearing to work hard for them. A highlight came before halftime: after Boumtje Boumtje’s basket on what looked like Duke’s last possession of the half, Blackwell jumped in front of the inbounds pass and then hit a buzzer-beating three.
The team is deep with talent, but the writer still sees Blackwell as a safe bet to lead Duke in scoring.
4. The defense looks elite despite new faces
With many new players in the rotation, defense is a non-negotiable for Scheyer, and it showed. Belmont was consistently frustrated. Key points:
- Patrick Ngongba and Boumtje Boumtje form a pair of “twin towers” that makes scoring at the rim difficult.
- The effect should grow stronger once Scharnowski returns.
- Sarr was a nuisance on the wing, and the overall effort level was high.
Scheyer should be pleased with what he saw on that end.
What it means
- Depth is real. Duke won big without two rotation players.
- The freshman is the headline. Boumtje Boumtje’s performance is the main storyline.
- The offense has room to grow, while the defense already looks ready.
- Foster and Scharnowski’s returns should add even more to a group that already looks like a contender.