Duke Vs Notre Dame: Top-Ranked Blue Devils Head to South Bend After Win at Michigan
Top-ranked Duke returns to ACC play for duke vs notre dame after a 68-63 victory over Michigan in Washington, D. C., a result that sends the Blue Devils to South Bend to face a struggling Notre Dame squad.
Duke Vs Notre Dame: Who must step up
Duke will lean on perimeter production in South Bend, and three players singled out for impact are AJ Evans, Jared Foster and Mamadi Khamenia. Evans came out aggressive against Michigan, attempting two quick three-pointers and scoring five early points, but he struggled to convert consistently against the top opponent and needs to regain rhythm in the duke vs notre dame matchup.
Foster provided 12 points in the Michigan game and hit 2-for-3 from three-point range while helping limit Elliot Cadeau to 1-for-8 shooting; sustaining that defensive intensity and steady scoring will be crucial with four regular-season games remaining. Khamenia offered a productive spark off the bench with six points on 3-for-4 shooting in Washington, D. C., and continued bench scoring could give Duke a reliable sixth man as postseason play approaches.
What the Michigan win revealed
The 68-63 victory showcased Duke's balance and individual performances. Freshman forward Cameron Boozer led the Blue Devils with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting, added 10 rebounds and delivered seven assists, a complete box score that anchored Duke in the paint and on the glass. Patrick Ngongba finished with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting and contributed two blocks and a steal, showing the defensive presence that helped secure the road result in Washington, D. C.
Those contributions underscored depth: Boozer's double-double and playmaking, Ngongba's rim protection and Khamenia's efficient bench scoring combined to produce the team's biggest win of the season, a 68-63 decision that the Blue Devils will try to build on at Notre Dame.
Road test and next steps
With the Michigan victory in the rearview, Duke travels to South Bend to face a struggling Notre Dame team in ACC play, then will turn its attention to a looming showdown with No. 11 Virginia later in the schedule. The immediate consequence of the Michigan game is a test of consistency: if Evans regains shooting form, Foster builds on his momentum and Khamenia continues to provide productive minutes off the bench, Duke strengthens its standing as a national contender with four regular-season games left.
The Blue Devils head to Notre Dame next, where the team must convert the balance shown in Washington, D. C., into another road result before the Virginia matchup and the final stretch of the regular season.
