Blue Devil Country

Talks of Duke Basketball Game in Tennis Venue Reportedly Fall Through

A 2024-25 Duke basketball showdown against St. John's in Arthur Ashe Stadium is a no-go.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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With Cooper Flagg and the rest of the nation's top-ranked class joining potentially a few starters from the current Duke basketball squad, next season's Blue Devils may be ready-made for the sport's biggest stage. But it doesn't look as though they'll play in the world's largest tennis-specific venue, Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, N.Y.

Over the weekend, St. John's head coach Rick Pitino told college hoops insider Adam Zagoria that he and his staff are no longer in talks with Jon Scheyer and his Duke cohorts about a 2024-25 matchup in what is the main stadium for the US Open. Back in October, though, Pitino came across as hopeful about the possibility.

"We're in negotiations with that," he told Zagoria at the time. "I know both teams are interested in doing it. I know we've been in negotiations, but I think the likelihood is more positive than negative."

Thus far, there are only two known non-conference opponents for Cooper Flagg & Co.

The Blue Devils are slated to battle fellow blueblood Kentucky in Atlanta's State Farm Arena on Nov. 12 as part of the annual Champions Classic. Nine days later, they'll be in Tucson to square off against Arizona after losing at home to the Wildcats this past November in their preplanned two-season home-and-home series.

NEXT DUKE BASKETBALL GAME: No. 10 Blue Devils (23-6, 14-4 ACC) at unranked NC State (17-12, 9-9 ACC), 7 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN)

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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