Duke Basketball: Ranking Blue Devils 2019-20 non-conference opponents

10. Central Arkansas Bears (Nov 12)

2018-19 record: 14-19 (8-10)

They lose their leading scorer Thatch Unruh to graduation but returns most of the rest of the roster. Hayden Koval and Deandre Jones leads a balanced roster offensively but was a poor defensive unit. Hard to imagine them putting up a fight against the Blue Devils.

9. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (Nov 26)

2018-19 record: 14-16 (7-11)

Injuries decimated the preseason Southland favorites last season and they’ll have to find a way to replace leading scorer Shannon Bouges and their best frontcourt player in Davonte Fitzgerald. Kevon Harris (17. 8 ppg and 6.5 rpg) will return for his senior season but no one else who averaged more than eight points a game joins him. Long as Duke keeps him in check they’ll be fine.

8. Brown Bears (Dec 28)

2018-19 record: 20-12 (7-7)

The Bears had a breakout season for their program to crack the top-four of the Ivy League. Unfortunately for them, leading scorer Desmond Cambridge elected to transfer to Nevada this offseason. Forward Tamenang Choh is the lone double-digit scorer returning for Brown and he’ll have to deal with Duke down low at just 6’5. They’ll be an experienced team throughout their rotation but the Bears won’t put up too much of a fight against power conference foes.

7. Colorado State Rams (Nov 8)

2018-19 record: 12-20 (7-11)

The prime attraction for Colorado State is senior forward Nico Carvacho, who averaged 16.1 ppg and 12.9 rpg, which led the entire country last season. The hope for the Rams is that one of the five role players who averaged between 6.8-9.2 ppg will emerge since JD Paige (15.6 ppg) graduated and double-digit scoring guard Anthony Masinton-Bonner transferred out. At the very least, scouts will be very interested to see how Carvacho operated against the Duke frontcourt.