Blue Devil Country

Potential for Three Duke Basketball Talents in Olympic Quarterfinals

Teams that enjoy a Duke basketball presence are a combined 6-1 in France thus far.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball guard RJ Barrett
Former Duke basketball guard RJ Barrett / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
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Former Duke basketball one-and-done and current Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett helped propel Canada to an 88-85 win over Spain on Friday, capping off the Canadians' 3-0 march through Group A at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Barrett, averaging 21.0 points while shooting a blistering 59.5 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from three, and 87.5 percent at the line, is undoubtedly among the contenders for Olympic MVP honors.

Meanwhile, the United States' lone Duke basketball product, Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum, and the Blue Devil freshman center playing in Paris, South Sudan's Khaman Maluach, have each seen limited playing time in Group C action. Neither has tallied more than five points or rebounds.

Tatum and Team USA (2-0) complete their Group C schedule when they square off against Puerto Rico (0-2) at 11:15 a.m. ET Saturday (NBC) before Maluach and South Sudan (1-1) take on three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia (1-1) at 3 p.m. (CNBC).

The quarterfinals, featuring the top two teams in the standings from each of the four groups, take place on Tuesday, with the semifinals slated for Thursday and the gold medal game tipping off next Saturday. Brackets will be revealed following the conclusion of the battle between South Sudan and Serbia.

Canada punched its ticket to the quarterfinals, of course. Team USA is also in, regardless of how the Americans fare against Puerto Rico. South Sudan's fate depends on its outcome against Serbia.

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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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