So far this 2025-26 college basketball season, Duke (4-0) has established itself as one of the best teams in the nation. They have a trio of easy wins, along with a 75-60 victory over Texas to open the year.
The Blue Devils face their toughest test to date when they play Kansas (3-1) in the annual Champions Classic. It was supposed to be a battle of top freshmen and projected NBA Draft picks, but the Jayhawks likely will be without Darryn Peterson, who reportedly will be out for the immediate future.
While Duke will be the favorite on paper, Kansas will still pose a challenge. Here’s a look at the keys to victory for the Blue Devils.
1. Cameron Boozer against the Jayhawk forwards
So far, so good for the elite Duke freshman, averaging 22.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg. On this kind of national stage, it’s an opportunity for Boozer to have a massive outing in the race for National Player of the Year and potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But Kansas has the frontcourt to pose issues, featuring players such as Flory Bidunga, Bryson Tiller, and even Paul Mbiya. Duke does rely a lot on Cameron Boozer on offense at times, and Tuesday will be no different.
2. Foster and Cayden vs the Kansas guards
It’s not just Cameron who Duke needs to have a good game. Cayden Boozer has averaged 7.5 ppg and 4.0 apg as the starting point guard, slowly developing in his first year. He and veteran Caleb Foster have been solid but not elite in the backcourt and will be tested against Kansas, whether Peterson is available or not. If they get outplayed against the likes of Melvin Council, Elmarko Jackson, and Jayden Dawson, the Blue Devils could be in trouble.
3. Winning the three-point battle
Duke has been very good from the three-point line to this point, making 11 a game at nearly 38% from deep. Kansas has a smaller volume but is just as efficient. What makes this a key to the game is that both teams rank in the top-25 in the country in 3PT percentage allowed at around 25%. If the defenses take away the three-ball, that’ll make Cameron Boozer’s inside play all the more critical for this matchup.