Michigan Vs Duke: Top-Ranked Wolverines Head to Capital One Arena for High-Profile Showcase

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Vs Duke will unfold in the Edward Jones Capital Showcase presented by Bad Boy Mowers at Capital One Arena, where top-ranked Michigan (25-1) travels to the nation's capital to face No. 3 Duke (24-3). Tipoff is set for 6: 30 p. m. ET on a national sports network, with Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas and Kris Budden on the call, and both teams will be featured on a national pregame show ahead of the matchup.

Michigan Vs Duke: history and the long layoff between meetings

Michigan meets Duke for the first time since Dec. 3, 2013 — a span of 12 years, two months and 18 days (4, 463 days). That meeting was an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at Cameron Indoor Stadium in which No. 10 Duke defeated No. 22 Michigan 79-69. Michigan's last win over Duke came on Dec. 6, 2008 — 17 years, two months and 15 days (6, 283 days) — when, after falling in the 2K Sports Classic semifinal at Madison Square Garden, the Wolverines upset the fourth-ranked Blue Devils 73-71 in Ann Arbor less than two weeks later.

Preview: stakes, venue and return to Washington, D. C.

Michigan returns to Washington, D. C., for the first time since 2021, when No. 6 U-M defeated Prairie View A& M 77-49 in the Coaches vs. Racism matchup. The Wolverines' last game in downtown D. C. came during the 2017 Big Ten Tournament title run at the Verizon Center (now Capital One Arena), when the No. 8 seed won four games in four days after the team plane slid off the runway en route to the nation's capital.

Top-ranked Michigan's season by the numbers

At 25-1, Michigan is producing one of the most dominant seasons in program history: 21 wins by 10+ points, 13 by 20+, 10 by 30+, seven by 40+ (a Big Ten record) and one by 50+. After a 14-0 start was snapped, Michigan has won 11 straight, including six road victories and three top-10 wins — No. 5 Nebraska (75-72), at No. 7 Michigan State (83-71) and at No. 7 Purdue (91-80).

Key personnel: Michigan's 'Big Three' and role players

Michigan's "Big Three" — Yaxel Lendeborg (14. 4 ppg, 7. 5 rpg), Morez Johnson Jr. (13. 5 ppg, 7. 3 rpg) and Aday Mara (11. 2 ppg, 7. 1 rpg) — account for over 45 percent of the team's scoring and more than 55 percent of its rebounding. Mara has 71 blocks (2. 73 bpg), recording at least one in every game. He ranks third nationally with 22 multi-block games, including a career-high six versus Penn State. Over his last four games, Mara has added playmaking with 16 assists (4. 0 apg), including a career-best seven at Northwestern.

L. J. Cason, after six double-figure games in his first 20 contests, has four in his last five — highlighted by a career-best 18 at Northwestern — while shooting 58. 8 percent from the field and 9-for-27 from three over that span. Trey McKenney continues to thrive in a sixth-man role: 18 double-figure games, a team-best 90. 5 percent at the free-throw line (15 consecutive) and 43 three-pointers.

Michigan Vs Duke: what to watch and broadcast notes

Watch for how Michigan's interior defense and Aday Mara's shot-blocking presence match up with Duke's offensive strengths. The neutral-site spotlight and the national pregame show appearance add visibility to both programs; Michigan (2-2) makes its fifth appearance on that national pregame show — previously hosting twice (2012, 2015) and appearing twice on the road (2013, 2014). This will be Michigan's first appearance on that show at a neutral site.

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Preview coverage will continue to track the matchup details as the teams prepare for tipoff in Washington, D. C.; schedule details are subject to change.