Blue Devil Country

Only One Duke Basketball Championship Team Had Longer Streak Than This

Fresh off the most lopsided Duke basketball home win over UNC since Jon Scheyer was a senior, the Blue Devils haven't lost in 10 weeks.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg and head coach Jon Scheyer
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg and head coach Jon Scheyer / Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
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Behind a combined 43 points from freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday night, Duke basketball torched the UNC Tar Heels, 87-70, marking the Blue Devils' largest home margin of victory over their archrivals since now-head coach Jon Scheyer and the 2009-10 Blue Devils tallied an 82-50 win on his Senior Night.

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And only one of Duke's five national champions has recorded a winning streak equal to or longer than the 15-game brilliance that Cooper Flagg & Co. is currently riding. The 1991-92 collection tallied 17 consecutive victories out of the gates as defending champs, ultimately posting a 34-2 overall record and completing the Blue Devils' back-to-back titles.

Still, by defeating the Tar Heels (13-10, 6-5 ACC), these No. 2-ranked Blue Devils (19-2, 11-0 ACC), whose streak includes handing the No. 1 Auburn Tigers (20-1, 8-0 SEC) what remains their lone loss, outdid the 2015 champs' season-opening 14 in a row. As for the other three other Duke champs, 1990-91 never won more than seven straight, and 10 was the max for 2000-01 (twice) and 2009-10.

Plus, it's worth noting that the 2024-25 Blue Devils now boast the program's longest winning streak since the 2012-13 and 2010-11 squads each reeled off 15 straight to begin their campaigns.

With a road victory over the Syracuse Orange (9-12, 3-7 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN2), Duke basketball would enjoy its longest winning streak since then-seniors JJ Redick and Shelden Williams powered the 2005-06 Blue Devils to a season-opening 17-0 record.

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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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