Michigan Basketball in Talks to Play Duke at Neutral Site in 2026

Michigan basketball is working on finalizing a non-conference game against NCAA powerhouse Duke at Capital One Arena in Washington DC in February of 2026. Though the game is not yet finalized, Dusty May and his Wolverines are hungry, and it seems this could be the type of matchup to satiate that hunger. 

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Neither Michigan nor Duke is a stranger to playing in NBA stadiums. Duke took on another Big Ten team in February of last season, beating Illinois 110-67 at Madison Square Garden. Michigan has also played a game at MSG in each of the last two seasons alone, though their MSG games both took place earlier in the season.

A Non-Conference Game So Late in the Season Could Be Risky

Though it’s not unheard of, it is rare for such a high stakes, non-conference matchup to take place so late in the season, just one month out from the NCAA tournament. According to the Detroit Free Press, a source who is close to the program said, “[We are] Certainly taking that into consideration…We want to play the best teams in the country, though.”

Coach May has compiled an absolutely stacked roster of returning players, transfers, and a hefty recruiting class, landing his squad in the top ten of the early preseason rankings. Duke has also earned a top ten spot in the early preseason rankings, and while there is really no way to tell if those rankings are accurate without teams playing games, this matchup is sure to be a great one.

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If both teams continue trending in the direction they have been, a February matchup of these two powerhouse teams should certainly be a sight to behold.

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