Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Stars Lend Hand to Crazies Ahead of Showdown

It'll take a group Cameron effort for Duke basketball to beat Auburn, the Blue Devils' second top-two foe in the span of eight days.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball guard Sion James
Duke basketball guard Sion James / Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
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The Cameron Crazies' famed craziness in enduring frigid overnight conditions just to camp out for a Duke basketball game has never gone unappreciated by the program.

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So, this week, as the student section began pitching its Krzyzewskiville tents in anticipation of the SEC/ACC Challenge meeting between Jon Scheyer's No. 9-ranked Blue Devils (5-2, 0-0 ACC) and Bruce Pearl's visiting No. 2 Auburn Tigers (7-0, 0-0 SEC) at 9:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN), several Duke basketball players showed up to hand out cookies and "spread the word on the Sion James toy drive."

And the Blue Devils on hand, including freshman centerpiece Cooper Flagg, junior guard Tyrese Proctor, and graduate guard Sion James, even went as far as to help the Crazies set up camp, albeit not without cracking a few jokes in the process.

Check out the following highlights from the experience, which the official Duke basketball account posted on Tuesday morning:

"You guys are Duke students," James jokingly noted when one group of Crazies admitted to struggling with the process of erecting its tent. "You're Duke Finance. You guys are going to be world-changers."

Perhaps the Crazies will return the favor by helping to serve as game-changers on Wednesday night.

Duke bounced back from last Tuesday night's Vegas Showdown defeat at the hands of the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks by notching a 70-48 home win over the unranked Seattle Redhawks on Friday night. Following the battle against Auburn, Scheyer's third batch of Blue Devils will prepare for its first ACC contest, a true road test versus the Louisville Cardinals at 6 p.m. ET Sunday (ACC Network).

ALSO READ: Blue Devils Enjoy Ranking Bump Despite Loss in Vegas

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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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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