Duke’s brutal non-conference schedule for the 2025–26 season could be a double-edged sword for Jon Scheyer’s squad.

True to form, Scheyer has once again built one of the most demanding early-season slates in college basketball — a gauntlet that could either sharpen the Blue Devils into title contenders or expose their weaknesses before March.

The season opener sets the tone immediately, with Duke facing Texas in the inaugural Dickie V Classic at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. From there, the schedule only intensifies. The Blue Devils are set to battle five teams ranked in ESPN’s preseason top 25, including three inside the top 10 — a stretch that could define their season.

While Duke’s roster is loaded with talent, it’s also untested. Veterans like Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans return, but the team lacks an established on-court leader. In an era dominated by experienced squads, this mix of raw ability and inexperience makes Duke one of the hardest teams to predict.

The stakes are high: in their five marquee matchups against ranked opponents, Duke likely needs at least a 3–2 record to remain in the national title conversation. That’s no small task with Kansas, Arkansas, Texas Tech, and Michigan waiting on neutral floors, Michigan State hosting them in East Lansing, and Florida visiting Cameron Indoor for the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Given the ACC’s projected lack of depth this year, Scheyer’s strategy is clear — load the non-conference slate with résumé-boosting games. Success in this stretch could cement Duke as a top-five team by December. But a rough run could send them tumbling out of the top 15, making their path to a high NCAA Tournament seed far more difficult.

Cooper Flagg Thrust Into Spotlight as Mavs Scramble to Cover for D’Angelo Russell’s Collapse

Cooper Flagg Thrust Into Spotlight as Mavs Scramble to Cover for D’Angelo Russell’s Collapse

The Dallas Mavericks didn’t just draft a potential franchise player when they selected Cooper Flagg  they inherited an emergency plan. With Kyrie Irving’s future uncertain and a key offseason signing already being labeled a disaster, the Mavs are turning to their 19-year-old rookie to do more than just develop. They’re asking him to save the season.

Cooper Flagg: From Duke to Dallas, and Straight Into Chaos

Fresh off a Final Four run with the Duke Blue Devils, Cooper Flagg’s arrival in Dallas was meant to be the start of a new chapter. The 6-foot-9 forward showcased a rare two-way arsenal at the collegiate level, highlighted by his 4.2 assists per game  an impressive mark for a non-guard. But the Mavericks didn’t expect to need that playmaking right away.

Now, they might have no choice.

With Kyrie Irving possibly sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season, head coach Jason Kidd is being forced to reshape his offense. And according to The Athletic’s Law Murray, that could mean accelerating Flagg’s development Giannis-style.

“Jason Kidd, when he got the Bucks job, put the ball in Giannis’ hands and accelerated his potential. They’re gonna have to do the same with Flagg,” Murray said. “Because you can’t ask D’Angelo Russell to be the primary ball handler. D’Angelo was legitimately awful last year.”

D’Angelo Russell: The $11.7M Misfire?

Russell, who signed a two-year, $11.7 million deal with Dallas this summer, is already being viewed as a liability. The former Lakers guard struggled mightily after being dealt to the Brooklyn Nets midway through last season. His shooting percentages cratered  below 30% from three, under 40% overall  and his assist-to-turnover ratio (5.1 to 1.9) failed to inspire confidence.

This isn’t the D’Angelo Russell of old. This is a version that appears broken, and the Mavs hedged by signing him to just bi-annual exception money. The hope was that his shooting could bounce back, but so far, there’s little reason to believe that’s imminent.

Now, instead of supporting a Luka-Kyrie tandem, Russell is staring down the role of primary facilitator  a job few believe he’s equipped to handle anymore.

Irving’s Injury Still Looming Large

Even with Anthony Davis entering his first full season in Dallas and Flagg expected to be a future cornerstone, veteran guard Alex Caruso stressed that the Mavericks’ fate hinges on one name: Kyrie.

“We got to see how they’re gonna be,” Caruso said last month at the American Century Championship. “Kyrie’s still hurt. He might be out the whole year. He might come back late. A lot of that depends on him.”

It’s a reality that Dallas can’t ignore. Without Irving, there’s no proven offensive engine on the roster. And while Flagg may become that in time, asking a rookie to carry that weight in year one  while guarding NBA wings, directing offense, and learning the speed of the game  is a lot to ask.

The Flagg Plan: Fast-Track or Fail?

This isn’t a normal rookie experience. Cooper Flagg isn’t being eased into the league  he’s being thrown into the fire. The Mavericks see shades of Giannis in him, and Jason Kidd has done this before. But make no mistake: if Flagg doesn’t quickly rise to the challenge, Dallas is staring down a very messy season.

He wasn’t drafted to be the savior… not yet. But that’s what he’s being asked to be.

And with D’Angelo Russell fading, Kyrie Irving fading out, and the West as brutal as ever, Flagg’s learning curve

Cooper Flagg Thrust Into Spotlight as Mavs Scramble to Cover for D’Angelo Russell’s Collapse

The Dallas Mavericks didn’t just draft a potential franchise player when they selected Cooper Flagg  they inherited an emergency plan. With Kyrie Irving’s future uncertain and a key offseason signing already being labeled a disaster, the Mavs are turning to their 19-year-old rookie to do more than just develop. They’re asking him to save the season.

Cooper Flagg: From Duke to Dallas, and Straight Into Chaos

Fresh off a Final Four run with the Duke Blue Devils, Cooper Flagg’s arrival in Dallas was meant to be the start of a new chapter. The 6-foot-9 forward showcased a rare two-way arsenal at the collegiate level, highlighted by his 4.2 assists per game  an impressive mark for a non-guard. But the Mavericks didn’t expect to need that playmaking right away.

Now, they might have no choice.

With Kyrie Irving possibly sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season, head coach Jason Kidd is being forced to reshape his offense. And according to The Athletic’s Law Murray, that could mean accelerating Flagg’s development Giannis-style.

“Jason Kidd, when he got the Bucks job, put the ball in Giannis’ hands and accelerated his potential. They’re gonna have to do the same with Flagg,” Murray said. “Because you can’t ask D’Angelo Russell to be the primary ball handler. D’Angelo was legitimately awful last year.”

D’Angelo Russell: The $11.7M Misfire?

Russell, who signed a two-year, $11.7 million deal with Dallas this summer, is already being viewed as a liability. The former Lakers guard struggled mightily after being dealt to the Brooklyn Nets midway through last season. His shooting percentages cratered  below 30% from three, under 40% overall  and his assist-to-turnover ratio (5.1 to 1.9) failed to inspire confidence.

This isn’t the D’Angelo Russell of old. This is a version that appears broken, and the Mavs hedged by signing him to just bi-annual exception money. The hope was that his shooting could bounce back, but so far, there’s little reason to believe that’s imminent.

Now, instead of supporting a Luka-Kyrie tandem, Russell is staring down the role of primary facilitator  a job few believe he’s equipped to handle anymore.

Irving’s Injury Still Looming Large

Even with Anthony Davis entering his first full season in Dallas and Flagg expected to be a future cornerstone, veteran guard Alex Caruso stressed that the Mavericks’ fate hinges on one name: Kyrie.

“We got to see how they’re gonna be,” Caruso said last month at the American Century Championship. “Kyrie’s still hurt. He might be out the whole year. He might come back late. A lot of that depends on him.”

It’s a reality that Dallas can’t ignore. Without Irving, there’s no proven offensive engine on the roster. And while Flagg may become that in time, asking a rookie to carry that weight in year one  while guarding NBA wings, directing offense, and learning the speed of the game  is a lot to ask.

The Flagg Plan: Fast-Track or Fail?

This isn’t a normal rookie experience. Cooper Flagg isn’t being eased into the league  he’s being thrown into the fire. The Mavericks see shades of Giannis in him, and Jason Kidd has done this before. But make no mistake: if Flagg doesn’t quickly rise to the challenge, Dallas is staring down a very messy season.

He wasn’t drafted to be the savior… not yet. But that’s what he’s being asked to be.

And with D’Angelo Russell fading, Kyrie Irving fading out, and the West as brutal as ever, Flagg’s learning

Cooper Flagg Thrust Into Spotlight as Mavs Scramble to Cover for D’Angelo Russell’s Collapse

The Dallas Mavericks didn’t just draft a potential franchise player when they selected Cooper Flagg  they inherited an emergency plan. With Kyrie Irving’s future uncertain and a key offseason signing already being labeled a disaster, the Mavs are turning to their 19-year-old rookie to do more than just develop. They’re asking him to save the season.

Cooper Flagg: From Duke to Dallas, and Straight Into Chaos

Fresh off a Final Four run with the Duke Blue Devils, Cooper Flagg’s arrival in Dallas was meant to be the start of a new chapter. The 6-foot-9 forward showcased a rare two-way arsenal at the collegiate level, highlighted by his 4.2 assists per game  an impressive mark for a non-guard. But the Mavericks didn’t expect to need that playmaking right away.

Now, they might have no choice.

With Kyrie Irving possibly sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season, head coach Jason Kidd is being forced to reshape his offense. And according to The Athletic’s Law Murray, that could mean accelerating Flagg’s development Giannis-style.

“Jason Kidd, when he got the Bucks job, put the ball in Giannis’ hands and accelerated his potential. They’re gonna have to do the same with Flagg,” Murray said. “Because you can’t ask D’Angelo Russell to be the primary ball handler. D’Angelo was legitimately awful last year.”

D’Angelo Russell: The $11.7M Misfire?

Russell, who signed a two-year, $11.7 million deal with Dallas this summer, is already being viewed as a liability. The former Lakers guard struggled mightily after being dealt to the Brooklyn Nets midway through last season. His shooting percentages cratered  below 30% from three, under 40% overall  and his assist-to-turnover ratio (5.1 to 1.9) failed to inspire confidence.

This isn’t the D’Angelo Russell of old. This is a version that appears broken, and the Mavs hedged by signing him to just bi-annual exception money. The hope was that his shooting could bounce back, but so far, there’s little reason to believe that’s imminent.

Now, instead of supporting a Luka-Kyrie tandem, Russell is staring down the role of primary facilitator  a job few believe he’s equipped to handle anymore.

Irving’s Injury Still Looming Large

Even with Anthony Davis entering his first full season in Dallas and Flagg expected to be a future cornerstone, veteran guard Alex Caruso stressed that the Mavericks’ fate hinges on one name: Kyrie.

“We got to see how they’re gonna be,” Caruso said last month at the American Century Championship. “Kyrie’s still hurt. He might be out the whole year. He might come back late. A lot of that depends on him.”

It’s a reality that Dallas can’t ignore. Without Irving, there’s no proven offensive engine on the roster. And while Flagg may become that in time, asking a rookie to carry that weight in year one  while guarding NBA wings, directing offense, and learning the speed of the game  is a lot to ask.

The Flagg Plan: Fast-Track or Fail?

This isn’t a normal rookie experience. Cooper Flagg isn’t being eased into the league  he’s being thrown into the fire. The Mavericks see shades of Giannis in him, and Jason Kidd has done this before. But make no mistake: if Flagg doesn’t quickly rise to the challenge, Dallas is staring down a very messy season.

He wasn’t drafted to be the savior… not yet. But that’s what he’s being asked to be.

And with D’Angelo Russell fading, Kyrie Irving fading out, and the West as brutal as ever, Flagg’s learning curve may define the Mavericks’ year.

Ready or not, Cooper Flagg’s time is now.

may define the Mavericks’ year.

Ready or not, Cooper Flagg’s time is now.

define the Mavericks’ year.

Ready or not, Cooper Flagg’s time is now.