Duke announces exhibition game against UCF

Duke will have another Brotherhood Run game against a coach who’s an alumni of the program — but it’ll be an exhibition game.

The Blue Devils will play host to UCF and coach Johnny Dawkins for the Brotherhood Run exhibition game on Oct. 21 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. A time and broadcast details will be announced later.

Dawkins was inducted into Duke’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. His No. 24 jersey was retired at the end of his senior season in 1986 and he left as the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,556 points).

He spent a decade on Duke’s coaching staff after his NBA career ended. He was an associate head coach for current coach Jon Scheyer’s first two seasons as a Blue Devil.

“It means a lot to welcome Johnny Dawkins and UCF to Cameron for this exhibition,” Scheyer said through a news release. “Johnny is truly one of the pillars of Duke Basketball. His jersey hangs in the rafters, and his legacy is felt every day within our program. … This game will be a great test for both teams as we gear up for the season and we get a chance to play in front of our fans in Cameron.”

Duke and UCF have only played once before and it was a memorable game not too long ago. The Blue Devils won a second round NCAA tournament game 77-76 in 2019, with Zion Williamson and UCF’s Aubrey Dawkins both scoring 32 points and Duke surviving two shots that rattled around the rim in the final seconds.

“It’s always special going back to Duke — it’s a place that shaped so much of who I am, both as a player and a person,” Dawkins said through a news release. “To have the opportunity to bring our UCF team there, to compete in that environment and be part of something meaningful, is an honor. It’s not just about basketball — it’s about giving back to the game and continuing the relationships that helped build my foundation.”

Duke has two regular-season games that are also dubbed Brotherhood Run games, as part of a three-day event. The Blue Devils play Niagara (coached by Greg Paulus) and Howard (coached by Kenneth Blakeney) on Nov. 21 and 23, respectively. Niagara and Howard will play each other on Nov. 22.

Last year, in an exhibition holding the Brotherhood Run moniker, Duke beat Bobby Hurley’s Arizona State team 103-47.