Duke Basketball introduced itself to fans during Saturday’s Countdown to Craziness, where Team White triumphed over Team Blue with a score of 29-24, thanks to a last-minute three-pointer by Deron Rippey. The game featured an encouraging moment early on when Dame Sarr successfully drove to the basket and scored a layup, a notable improvement from his performance last season.
Read More
Though the game had its rough patches typical for this time of year, several players stood out. Rippey and Sebastian Wilkins each scored 7 points for Team White. Patrick Ngongba had a concerning moment when he went down during play, but it was revealed later that his injury is not serious. Ngongba, who began the game impressively with sharp passes, poses an intriguing option for coach Jon Scheyer. While he is expected to be Duke’s primary inside player, he could also thrive in a high post role. This will become clearer once Drew Scharnowski returns; the Belmont transfer's style could create a dynamic combination in both high and low post situations alongside Ngongba.
Rippey impressed with his athleticism, even on missed attempts, while Wilkins made an impact with a breakaway steal followed by a dunk. Among the younger players, JoJo Boumtje Boumtje appeared somewhat tentative, which is to be expected in a scrimmage, while Cameron Williams displayed promising fluidity. Maxime Meyer contributed with an offensive rebound basket and a solid block against Caleb Foster.
John Blackwell managed to make two unexpected drives that successfully resulted in points, and Foster performed reliably as anticipated. Although 2024 recruit Bronny Boozer did not have a standout scrimmage, he is expected to improve. Bryson Howard was less prominent but did manage a noteworthy outside shot.
As a scrimmage, the outcomes should be taken lightly, but the team will soon embark on exhibition play, starting next week against Belmont, which will provide further insight into their development.