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

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: Grayson Allen #3 of the Duke Blue Devils attempts a shot defended by Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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CHAPEL HILL, NC – DECEMBER 20: Derrick Brooks #1 of the Wofford Terriers celebrates with teammates from their bench during their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center on December 20, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 79-75. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

6. Winthrop Eagles (Nov 29)

2018-19 record: 18-12 (10-6)

The 8th-ranked scoring offense took a big blow with the losses of leading scorers and starting backcourt trio of Nych Smith, Bjorn Broman and Adam Pickett. But they do bring back one of the best big men in the Big South in senior Josh Ferguson. Winthrop also has a few underclassmen who scored at a high clip in limited playing time. But the Eagles will have to do better than their 78.6 ppg allowed mark from last season. An up and down game with Duke wouldn’t end well for them.

5. Wofford Terriers (Nov 29)

2018-19 record: 30-5 (18-0)

After a historic season for the program, Wofford will be without not only their top two scorers (Player of the Year Flecther Magee and top forward Cameron Jackson) but also head coach Mike Young, who went to Virginia Tech this offseason. Center Keve Aluma followed suit, decimating the Terriers in the frontcourt. They have some talent remaining in rising senior Nathan Hoover and starting point guard Storm Murphy.

4. Cal Bears (Nov 21)

2018-19 record: 8-23 (3-15)

This is basically the 1 vs 4 matchup in the Empire Classic, with Duke all but getting a bye to the title game against either Texas or Georgetown. I would’ve been higher on the Bears for next season had they returned their entire roster since they had no seniors. But the firing of Wyking Jones caused an exodus of players, including their top two scorers Justice Sueing and Darius McNeil along with freshman center Connor Vanover. Double-digit scorers Paris Austin and Matt Bradley will be back but they have just as much of a chance to beat Duke as the previously mentioned mid-majors has.

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