Updates to Duke basketball schedule come with some surprise

There have been a few changes to the Duke basketball team’s upcoming slate.

A home game against Gardner-Webb was originally to serve as the Duke basketball season opener on Nov. 25 but did not happen on that date due to a positive COVID-19 test among the prospective visitors. The Blue Devils announced on Thursday, though, that the contest is now set for 2 p.m. on Dec. 19, still to be in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

At the time of the postponement announcement on Nov. 23, Duke expressed uncertainty as to whether Gardner-Webb would ever make the trip to Durham this season, leading most fans to expect an eventual nixing of the meeting.

Now, this rescheduling could mean Mike Krzyzewski and his Blue Devils — No. 6 in the latest AP Poll and sitting 1-1 after an 81-71 home win over Coppin State and a 75-69 home loss to Michigan State — are likely to find a time and place to make up their other postponed game.

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Duke confirmed that its originally scheduled home game this Sunday “is postponed due to COVID-19 protocols at Elon.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Wiseman of The News & Observer confirmed via a tweet that the Blue Devils will not fill Sunday’s opening with another opponent, which hints at optimism regarding the meeting with Elon taking place down the road. Assuming no further postponements, that game would give the Blue Devils the NCAA-max 27 outings for the 2020-21 regular season.

The remaining December schedule for Duke basketball, for now

As it stands, not counting a possible Elon game, Duke has six more outings in store for December.

The Blue Devils are set to play at home against Bellarmine at 7 p.m. Friday, home against Illinois at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, home against Charleston Southern at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, away against Notre Dame at 9 p.m. on Dec. 16, home against Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19, and home against Pitt at 8 p.m. on Dec. 29.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball schedule updates plus other news and views regarding the Blue Devils.