Duke basketball: Major reactions to unveiling of complete schedule

Duke basketball gets brutal stretch of games in early February

The ACC never gives an “easy” schedule to a team and Duke’s first brutal stretch of the season comes in early February.

The Blue Devils host North Carolina on February 4 and then begin back-to-back road games against Miami and Virginia on February 6 and February 11, respectively.

Duke will return home to face Mike Brey and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on February 14 before its seemingly annual trip to the Carrier Dome to battle the Syracuse Orange on February 18, a game that could once again set the attendance record for a college basketball game.

North Carolina are one of the few preseason National Title favorites while Miami returns its strong core from a team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Virginia, after a disappointing campaign although pulling off an upset victory in Durham, is expecting to be back to its usual form this season and competing near the top of the ACC standings.

Duke could get a breather in its tough slate with Notre Dame at home but if the Blue Devils can manage a 3-1 record in those four games it has to be looked at as a major success heading into the final weeks of the regular season.