Duke Blue Devils Dominate Texas Longhorns In Marquee Opening Game
Freshman debuts don’t always go according to plan. Cameron Boozer found that out the hard way Tuesday night when Duke squared off against Texas in the Dick Vitale Invitational. The 18-year-old phenom, son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, struggled mightily in the first 20 minutes, missing all seven of his field goal attempts and failing to score a single point.
But here’s the thing about elite players—they don’t stay down for long. And Boozer? He’s as elite as they come.
The Halftime Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer didn’t mince words at halftime. He looked his prized freshman in the eye and delivered a message that was equal parts tough love and tactical genius: “You’re playing soft.”
Most 18-year-olds might crumble under that kind of pressure. Boozer? He used it as fuel. “I just tried to wash it off,” Boozer said after the game, displaying the kind of mental toughness that separates good players from future lottery picks.
And wash it off he did. The 6-foot-9 forward from Miami came out in the second half like a man possessed, scoring all 15 of his points after the break while grabbing 10 of his 13 rebounds. He attacked the basket relentlessly, getting to the free-throw line 12 times in the second half alone and converting nine of those attempts.
Duke Pulls Away Behind Boozer’s Second-Half Surge
The Blue Devils trailed 33-32 at halftime, but once Boozer found his rhythm, Texas had no answer. Duke outscored the Longhorns 43-27 in the second half, cruising to a 75-60 victory that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score suggests.
One sequence perfectly encapsulated Boozer’s dominance: He caught the ball in the low post, spun away from his defender with the kind of footwork that would make his father proud, and finished with a layup while drawing the foul. The three-point play pushed Duke’s lead to 14 with five minutes remaining, essentially putting the game on ice.
“He’s just a competitor and he’s a winner,” Scheyer said. “The ability to flip that switch in game—that’s what a lot of guys struggle with. That’s not an easy thing.”
Texas Head Coach Sean Miller walked away shaking his head in admiration. “I think he’s one of the best players in the country,” Miller said. “I’d have a hard time believing there’s a freshman that is any better. His ability to rebound is amazing. He had 12 defensive rebounds tonight. That’s really difficult in a college game.” Then Miller added with a wry smile: “And he might have had a subpar game for him.”
The Complete Package: More Than Just Scoring
What makes Boozer so intriguing as a prospect isn’t just his ability to score—it’s his versatility. Against Texas, he stuffed the stat sheet with three assists, three steals, and a block to go along with his double-double. He impacted the game in multiple ways, something NBA scouts drool over.
Miller pointed out that Duke’s offensive system makes it nearly impossible to lock down Boozer for 40 minutes. The Blue Devils stretch the floor with shooters (shoutout to Isaiah Evans and his 23 points), forcing defenses to pick their poison.
“The way they play, they put tremendous pressure on the defense,” Miller said. “I think what you’ll find is generally that second half against Duke is tough. Because you can do it for a while, but it’s like that running game in football, and then that third and fourth quarter, it’s like, man, they just beat you down.”
The Boozer Legacy Continues At Cameron Indoor
There’s something poetic about watching Cameron Boozer wear Duke blue. His father, Carlos, was a Blue Devil legend who helped lead the program to the 2001 national championship before enjoying a successful 13-year NBA career. Now, the younger Boozer is carrying on that tradition.
The freshman already has NBA scouts circling the 2026 draft, and it’s easy to see why. His combination of size, skill, basketball IQ, and mental toughness is rare. The fact that he could respond to a brutal first half by taking over the game speaks volumes about his character and competitive fire.
What’s Next For Duke and Boozer?
The No. 6 Blue Devils will host Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon, giving Boozer another opportunity to showcase his talents. Don’t be surprised if he comes out with something to prove after an uneven debut.
Twin brother Cayden Boozer also got in on the action Tuesday, chipping in two points, two offensive rebounds, and two assists off the bench. The dynamic duo will have plenty of opportunities to shine as the season progresses. For now, though, Cameron Boozer has sent a message to the rest of college basketball: Write off his first half at your own peril. Because when the game is on the line, he’s going to deliver.
