We already knew the opponents Duke would face in conference play this year, but now you can set your calendars for the dates.
The ACC released the 2017-18 men's basketball conference schedule Thursday afternoon. The Blue Devils' slate is highlighted by matchups against North Carolina Feb. 8 in Chapel Hill and March 3 on Senior Night in Durham. Duke has won at least one regular-season game against the Tar Heels in each of the last eight seasons.
After traveling to Chicago for the Champions Classic against Michigan State Nov. 14, Portland, Ore., for the PK80 Thanksgiving weekend, and Bloomington, Ind., to face Indiana Nov. 29, the Blue Devils will make their fourth road trip in as many weeks to play Boston College Dec. 9 at noon. It is Duke's earliest ACC opener since the 2005-06 season, when Sean Dockery made a buzzer-beater from close to midcourt to beat Virginia Tech Dec. 4, 2005, and it is the third time in the last four years the Blue Devils have started conference play against the Eagles.
In addition to the regular-season finale against North Carolina, Duke's biggest home games will likely be a Feb. 21 contest against Louisville and a Jan. 29 showdown with Notre Dame. The Blue Devils will also travel to Coral Gables, Fla., Jan. 15, looking to avoid losing at Miami for the third straight year.
The game against the Cardinals will come after head coach Rick Pitino returns from a five-game suspension in conference games as part of the NCAA's punishment to Louisville for paying to set up escorts with recruits on official visits.
Duke's schedule is back-loaded with marquee opponents, with games against the Cardinals, a road trip to Virginia Tech and the finale against North Carolina all coming in the last four contests.
The Blue Devils' full conference schedule is below. Home games in bold.
Dec. 9 at Boston College
Dec. 30 vs. Florida State, 2 p.m.
Jan. 6 at N.C. State, 2 p.m./8 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. Wake Forest, Noon
Jan. 15 at Miami, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 vs. Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Wake Forest, 9 p.m.
Jan. 27 vs. Virginia, 2 p.m.
Jan. 29 vs. Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Feb. 8 at North Carolina, 8 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Georgia Tech, 6 p.m.
Feb. 14 vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
Feb. 18 at Clemson, 1 p.m.
Feb. 21 vs. Louisville, 9 p.m.
Feb. 24 vs. Syracuse, TBD
Feb. 26 at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
March 3 vs. North Carolina, 8:15 p.m.
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