Blue Devil Country

Season's Largest Crowd Watches Duke Basketball History in the Making

Nationwide Duke basketball fanfare just continues to intensify as the Blue Devils keep on powering past one test after another.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball at Syracuse
Duke basketball at Syracuse / Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
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Duke basketball extended its winning streak to 16 games, the program's longest since 2005-06, and improved to 7-0 in true road contests via an 83-54 win over the Syracuse Orange (10-13, 4-8 ACC) on Wednesday night. This time, it was junior guard Tyrese Proctor who led the No.2-ranked Blue Devils (20-2, 12-0 ACC) in the scoring column with his game-high 16 points, shooting 4-for-10 from deep.

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"I think, with this group, it's how together we are," Proctor, one of five Blue Devils reaching double-digit points, said afterward about Duke's road prowess. "I think that's the biggest thing that I've noticed, off the court and on the court, how connected we are.

"We all play for each other. We all have each other's back. It's fun, playing out there with your brothers and playing basketball the right way."

Speaking of Duke basketball road shows, the latest drew the biggest attendance across all of college hoops this season.

The official Syracuse basketball account advertised the 23,313 count. But the Orange failed to give credit where credit's due: to Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils, the only ranked ACC team this week and owners of the nation's longest winning streak courtesy of Cooper Flagg & Co.

So, Duke's social media team kindly pointed out what the fuss was all about in Syracuse on Wednesday night, posting the following snapshots from the Blue Devil takeover in the JMA Wireless Dome (the largest domed stadium on any college campus):

Fueled by junior and former Syracuse forward Maliq Brown's three steals and countless disruptions on defense, Duke basketball recorded a season-high 23 points off turnovers against the Orange.

The Blue Devils now gear up for a trip to Clemson, S.C., to face the Tigers (18-5, 10-2 ACC) in Littlejohn Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN).

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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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