Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Reveals 'Their Funeral' Jerseys for Arkansas Game

Duke basketball will be back in black against the Razorbacks.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
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For the first time this season, the Duke basketball team will wear the program's black jerseys when the No. 7 Blue Devils (5-1, 0-0 ACC) visit unranked Arkansas (4-3, 0-0 SEC) on Wednesday at 9:15 p.m. ET as part of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge. The program announced the look via social media posts late Monday night.

The black threads date back to the Blue Devils' 1996-97 campaign and have often coincided with big-time road games across the decades since.

In 2019, after the Blue Devils knocked off eventual national champion Virginia in Charlottesville, then-Duke basketball one-and-done RJ Barrett famously spoke about that group's affection for wearing black on the road.

"We love road games," Barrett said at the time. "That's why we wear black, because it's their funeral."

Duke and Arkansas have met only four times in history. Each program has won twice. Three of those matchups occurred in the late stages of the NCAA Tournament, including the most recent meeting at the 2022 Elite Eight in San Francisco, a 78-69 Blue Devil victory (note that it was the last win of Mike Krzyzewski's career).

Wednesday night's battle, Duke's first true road game this season, will be the first time in the series that a team has played on the opponent's home floor.

Following the bout with the Razorbacks, the Blue Devils will have a few days off before their ACC opener against Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon.

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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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