For most visiting college basketball coaches, a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium represents one of the most difficult assignments imaginable. For SIUE head coach Brian Barone, Friday's meeting with second-ranked Duke carries additional significance because of his family's history with the Blue Devils. His father, Tony Barone Sr., played basketball at Duke before returning to the program as an assistant coach, creating a fascinating connection between two schools meeting for the first time.
The Cougars enter Friday with a 2-2 record following consecutive road losses to Lipscomb and Missouri. Duke is 2-1 after suffering a 79-73 defeat against Michigan State in the Champions Classic on Tuesday. Although the Blue Devils will be heavily favored, Friday represents an important moment in the development of an SIUE program that has made considerable progress under Barone's leadership.
Travel day✈️#FindAWay | #RollCougs pic.twitter.com/bSBefD1W42
— SIUE Hoops (@SIUEMBB) November 12, 2026
The Barone family's basketball roots run through Durham
Tony Barone Sr. played for Duke from 1965 through 1968 and earned his degree from the university in 1971. He subsequently served as an assistant coach for the Blue Devils from 1972 through 1974, beginning a coaching journey that would eventually include leadership positions at Creighton, Texas A&M and with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. His career also included work in professional basketball personnel management.
Basketball remained an important part of the family, with Brian eventually establishing his own coaching career. His brother, Tony Jr., has also worked in college basketball, NBA scouting and with the NCAA. Friday's game brings another chapter to that family history as Brian leads his own program into one of college basketball's most recognizable venues.
Brian Barone has established his own legacy at SIUE
Barone enters Friday with 107 victories at SIUE, making him one of only four coaches in program history to reach the century mark. He needs five additional victories to move into a tie for third place on the school's career wins list. Those accomplishments reflect the progress of a program that reached the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
Friday also matches the highest national ranking of an opponent in SIUE history. The Cougars previously faced second-ranked Houston in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, giving Barone experience preparing his team for an opponent with national championship aspirations. Duke presents another opportunity for SIUE to measure itself against elite competition.
The Cougars have demonstrated encouraging interior production despite their recent losses, averaging 49.5 points in the paint through four games. They collected 12 offensive rebounds against Missouri on Monday, although the Tigers ultimately earned a convincing 98-56 victory. SIUE will need to complement that interior activity with considerably better overall execution against Duke.
An unforgettable opportunity for the Cougars
Duke possesses the size, talent and depth to make Friday particularly challenging for SIUE. However, opportunities to compete at Cameron Indoor Stadium are rare for programs outside the major conferences, and the Cougars can gain valuable experience before beginning Ohio Valley Conference competition.
The game tips off at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. For Barone, it represents another step in his efforts to build SIUE into a consistent winner while revisiting a place that played an important role in his family's basketball journey.
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