For the first 93 years of Texas Tech basketball’s existence, the Red Raiders and the Duke Blue Devils never met on the hardwood. On December 20, 2025, when Tech takes the court in Madison Square Garden against Duke, it will be the third time in eight seasons. This is one indication that Red Raider hoops has come up in the world. But will the Red Raiders finally get a win against the Blue Devils? The 2019 team, the greatest in program history, couldn’t get the job done. And Mark Adams’ Sweet Sixteen squad of 2022 was also unequal to the task, although it sure gave Duke a run for the money. It’s a long, long way from December 20, but this could be the first matchup between the two programs in which Texas Tech is actually favored.
The Blue Devils reached the Final Four last season and were knocked out by Houston. Duke’s roster, however, was wiped out by various forms of attrition, chief among them defection to the NBA. Only three significant players–guard, Caleb Foster; swingman, Isaiah Evans; forward, Maliq Brown–return from a year ago. Between them, they combined for only 10 total starts and 44 minutes per contest. Clearly then, the Blue Devils will sink or swim on the strength of their newest talent acquisitions. That, and coach Jon Scheyer, one of the most talented young coaches in America. Coach K was wise to designate Scheyer rather than Tommy Amaker as his successor.
Duke was led by freshman Cooper Flagg last season and will likely follow the lead of another frosh this year. Duke’s prime-time diaper dandy this time round is 6-foot-9 power forward Cameron Boozer, son of former Duke great, Carlos Boozer. The younger Boozer is unanimously reckoned to be one of the top five freshman prospects in the college game this season and will obviously be an extremely high draft pick after his lone season in Durham. The matchup between the super-talented young Boozer and Texas Tech’s superb veteran, JT Toppin, will be something to see.
But Cameron isn’t the only Boozer on the Duke roster. Cayden Boozer, a 6-foot-4 guard, will also likely figure in the Blue Devil rotation. He is rated among the top 25 frosh of the incoming class. With Boozers like this, the Dookies could be drinking champagne at season’s end.
Duke also poached 6-foot-8 swingman Dame Sarr from the European professional ranks. Sarr played most recently for FC Barcelona, initially with that franchise’s B team, before ultimately being called up to the first team. His abilities are likely on par with the Boozer twins.
Another 6-foot-8 swingman, Nikolas Khamenia from Los Angeles, California, is rated one of the top fifteen freshman of the incoming class.
As is quite obvious, this Duke team will have great length on the wings, excellent versatility, and as always, nonpareil talent. But this will also be an extremely young Blue Devils squad. One would think Duke’s youthfulness could give the Red Raiders a leg up in this year’s clash with the bluebloods. However, the 2025 Blue Devils were also extremely young, and they lost only four times the entire season. If Scheyer can bind this roster together quickly, they will be an absolute load for Texas Tech.