It started with a single post.
A 30-second clip from Duke’s summer workout quietly hit social media… but what followed was anything but quiet.
Fans weren’t focused on the dunks, the drills, or the players grinding in the gym. No — what caught fire was the style of practice.
“Wait… isn’t that exactly what Kentucky does?” one fan commented, setting off a chain reaction in the replies. From the music to the drills to the flashy transitions and fast-break scrimmages, the internet was convinced: Duke is channeling Big Blue Nation energy this offseason.
> “Duke copying Calipari’s old playbook now? Scheyer’s been watching tape from Lexington,” one fan joked — but others weren’t laughing.
THE SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISONS CAME QUICK.
Clips of Kentucky’s 2023 summer sessions were reposted alongside Duke’s recent footage, with fans pointing out striking similarities:
Tempo-heavy full-court drills
Emphasis on vertical spacing and lob setups
Practice camera angles and media style
Even the music playlist had fans drawing parallels
THE DEBATE GOT HEATED.
Some Duke fans defended the shift as a smart evolution:
> “It’s modern hoops. Positionless play. Duke’s just adapting.”
But others weren’t having it:
> “This ain’t Duke basketball. We’ve always been about execution, not mixtape energy.”
But Here’s What No One’s Talking About…
Jon Scheyer is entering his fourth year at the helm — and for the first time, he’s got his recruits, his culture, and his system fully in place. If Duke’s practice looks different… maybe it’s because the program is finally becoming something new.
And with a loaded roster including Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba II, and more — there’s every reason to believe this new look could become the new standard.
So What Do You Think?
Is Duke just evolving with the modern game?
Or are they borrowing too much from their blue-blood rival down south?
