Duke Basketball: Three Teams Duke Should Play in Non-Conference

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils speaks with his team against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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LAWRENCE, KS – DECEMBER 18: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks applauds his team during the first half against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks on December 18, 2017 at Allen Field House in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) /

Kansas

The Blue Devils and the Jayhawks are guaranteed to play at least once every three years in the Champions Classic, but this game would primarily be for revenge.

Kansas got the better end of the stick against Duke in the Elite 8, a game where Duke should have won if it weren’t for the poor officiating or if Grayson Allen’s shot went down at the end of regulation.

Over 75% of the ten starters in the Elite 8 will not be on either roster next season, but for the bench players and the fans, it’ll mean something extra.

Having a game with Two Hall of Fame coaches and blue blood programs is what college basketball needs, and what the fans of college basketball want.

Frankly, playing better competition will better prepare a team, especially a younger team like Duke, for the NCAA Tournament instead of the “buy games” we always see before conference play.

Out of the three scenarios, a Duke – Kansas matchup is the most unlikely, but it’s something that all coaches need to take a look at.

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