Duke and UNC Load Up for Brutal Schedules | College Basketball News

Duke’s 2026-27 non-conference schedule is shaping up as the toughest in the nation, with Coach Scheyer throwing down early-season battles against top-tier teams like Illinois and Michigan State — including a showdown with the Fighting Illini just days after facing the Spartans. Meanwhile, UNC’s new coach has also dialed up the difficulty, but their marquee matchup with Illinois comes much later in January. While Duke’s slate features five potential top-10 foes, UNC’s includes Arkansas, West Virginia, and Kentucky — still a formidable group. Scheyer’s bold move? Totally in line with Duke tradition, while Coach Malone gets praised for his own tough scheduling in his first year back. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5f153e028d575fff