Duke Captures Attention at Countdown to Craziness Event

Durham, North Carolina — Duke University’s basketball team showcased their talent during the annual Countdown to Craziness event on October 3, 2025.

This year, the event was notable despite the absence of Maliq Brown, who is still recovering from an injury. Current players, alongside Jayson Tatum, who is also rehabbing from an Achilles injury, were introduced to the enthusiastic crowd. Tatum’s return to Cameron Indoor Stadium was hailed as a powerful nod to the team’s legendary Brotherhood.

During the event, Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned that Tatum “will be helping Duke out” this season, offering fans insight into his role beyond playing.

The teams were divided into a White and Blue squad. The White team featured Cameron Boozer, Dame Sarr, Iffy Ufochukwu, and Darren Harris, while the Blue team included Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba II, Sebastian Wilkins, and Nikolas Khamenia. As anticipated, the more experienced Blue team claimed a 34-24 victory.

Although offense struggled on both sides, defense proved strong, with Ngongba notably sinking all three of his shots and Khamenia hitting three out of four attempts. The Blue team out-rebounded the White team 15-8, highlighting their dominance on the boards.

Newcomers experienced typical jitters playing in the iconic Cameron atmosphere. The adrenaline rush was palpable, but players will need to adapt as the season progresses.

Fans will get another glimpse of the team’s potential when former Duke player Johnny Dawkins brings his Central Florida squad to Cameron on October 21.