Duke basketball: Major reactions to unveiling of complete schedule

Duke basketball welcomes home friendly face

Following that brutal two weeks of games will be an emotional night inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Nolan Smith and the Louisville Cardinals make the trip to Durham on February 20 as Smith returns to Duke for the first time since leaving the program this offseason.

The former Director of Basketball Operations and assistant coach for the Blue Devils accepted a job on new Louisville head coach Kenny Payne’s staff to become his associate head coach.

Smith, should he have remained on Scheyer’s staff at Duke, would have remained as an assistant coach as Chris Carrawell remains in his position as the program’s associate head coach.

Nolan Smith has never stepped into Cameron Indoor Stadium for a basketball game not as a member of the Blue Devils so the night should be very emotional for the former National Champ and he will be greeted warmly by the sold out crowd.

The game with the Cardinals begins a three game home stand for the Blue Devils in the final two weeks of the regular season as the year wraps up on the road against North Carolina on March 4.

Duke does not make a trip to Louisville this season.