Men's Basketball to Play Duke Oct. 8

Two championship programs.
One special night.

??https://t.co/L9EfO2J8gb#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/DXSV6Zizq4

— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) July 29, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball will play a preseason scrimmage at five-time National Champion Duke Thursday, Oct. 8, the programs announced Wednesday.
 
Game time, broadcast details, and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
 
"To have the opportunity to compete against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium is special," said Belmont head coach Evan Bradds. "I want to thank Jon (Scheyer) and the Duke administration for their interest in making this game a reality."
 
Bradds served on the coaching staff of Duke head coach Jon Scheyer during the 2025-26 season. The Blue Devils went 35-3 last season, earned the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and won the ACC regular season and tournament championships.
 
This marks the third time Belmont and Duke have played in men's basketball.
 
The previous two meetings were fiercely-contested, unforgettable contests.
 
Duke defeated Belmont, 71-70, in the 2008 NCAA Tournament in Washington, D.C., a game in which Belmont guard Alex Renfroe was named Player of the Game. Scheyer scored 13 points as a sophomore guard for the Blue Devils.
 
Then as part of the 2011 Maui Invitational, Duke defeated Belmont, 77-76, at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Belmont had five double figure scorers, including 15 points and six assists from Kerron Johnson.
 
A late 3-pointer from Andre Dawkins proved to be the difference.
 
The 2026-27 college basketball schedule has expanded to three preseason exhibition games or scrimmages and 32 regular season games.
 
Last season, Duke hosted UCF in its first exhibition game; a reunion with former Duke All-American guard and UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins.
 
Belmont and Duke have several connections beyond Coach Bradds and Coach Scheyer.
 
Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones served Duke for two decades as Dean of Divinity and later as Vice President and Vice Provost.
 
Belmont NBA Champion Ian Clark played for former Duke guard and current Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder in Utah. Clark was also teammates with former Duke standouts Jahlil Okafor and Frank Jackson.
 
Belmont assistant coach Ja'Darius Harris served as a graduate assistant at Duke during the 2025-26 season.

Former Belmont all-conference forward Drew Scharnowski is in his first season at Duke.
 
Former Belmont graduate assistant Will Black currently serves as lead producer for Duke broadcasts on ESPN and the ACC Network.
 
Belmont season tickets – which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule – are on sale now at belmontbruins.com/tickets. 
 
To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.
 
Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture for the last two decades, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 21 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (behind Gonzaga and Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Kansas) and 19 or more games in 21 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last six years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 20 Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of its existence. Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in America whose men's and women's basketball programs have won 20 or more games in 11 consecutive seasons.
 
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