Duke’s 90-84 exhibition victory over Kansas delivered plenty of excitement, but one performance stood out above the rest. While the final score showed that the Blue Devils could compete against a talented opponent, head coach Jon Scheyer saw something even more encouraging from one of his most important players.
Patrick Ngongba II delivered a dominant performance against Kansas, finishing with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots in 32 minutes. However, his impact went far beyond the impressive numbers on the stat sheet.
Coming into the 2026-27 season, Ngongba was already considered a crucial piece of Duke’s championship ambitions. His return gave Scheyer an experienced presence in the frontcourt, and his performance against Kansas suggested that the junior center could become much more than a reliable contributor.
He could emerge as one of the Blue Devils’ biggest stars.
Jon Scheyer Saw More Than Just the Scoring
Ngongba’s offensive production immediately caught attention. He converted eight of his 10 attempts from inside the arc and also knocked down a three-pointer, continuing to demonstrate improvements in his outside shooting.
His ability to score in the paint gave Duke a reliable option whenever the offense needed a basket. The Blue Devils repeatedly exploited favorable post matchups, allowing Ngongba to use his size and touch against Kansas.
But Scheyer was particularly impressed by the center’s overall understanding of the game.
After the contest, the Duke coach praised Ngongba’s scoring, rebounding, passing, and defensive contributions. He also highlighted the big man’s court vision, comparing the way he sees the floor to that of a point guard.
That versatility could prove extremely valuable throughout the season.
Ngongba is not simply a center who waits near the basket for scoring opportunities. He can recognize defensive weaknesses, create opportunities for teammates, protect the rim, and switch assignments when necessary.
Those qualities help explain why Scheyer views him as such an important part of Duke’s plans.
Why This Performance Could Change Duke’s Season
Duke has additional frontcourt options this season, including Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje. Nevertheless, Ngongba offers a combination of experience, mobility, defensive instincts, and offensive versatility that makes him difficult to replace.
His health will be particularly important as the Blue Devils navigate a demanding schedule.
If Ngongba continues to produce at this level, Duke could have one of the most dangerous interior players in college basketball. His improved perimeter shooting would make him even harder to defend, forcing opponents to respect his ability to score from multiple areas of the floor.
There is still work to do before the regular season begins, and one exhibition game cannot guarantee future success.
However, Ngongba’s performance against Kansas offered a glimpse of his enormous potential. Scheyer did not just see a player capable of recording impressive statistics. He saw a versatile, intelligent big man capable of influencing nearly every aspect of a game.
And if that version of Ngongba becomes the standard, Duke’s opponents could have a much bigger problem than they anticipated.
