Duke is headed back to Madison Square Garden (MSG) for a marquee moment in college basketball. The Blue Devils take on Illinois in the SentinelOne Classic on February 22, 2025. This matchup not only maintains Duke’s tradition at The World’s Most Famous Arena but also should be an important test for Cooper Flagg and Jon Scheyer’s group leading into March Madness.

Over the years, MSG has essentially been Duke’s second home. The Blue Devils have played there in 24 of the past 27 seasons and have piled up an impressive 41-19 record. Their last visit? A momentum-seizing 78-70 victory against No. 10 Baylor in 2023, punctuated by a clutch 14-1 run. Scheyer, who’s been on the floor at MSG more times than he can remember—as a player, as an assistant, now head coach—knows well what this building means for his team.

But in February, why take on such a huge challenge? Scheyer clarified about the matchup on ‘The Field of 68: After Dark podcast’: “I wanted to ramp up what we were doing non-conference to … make sure we had the opportunity for big-time games.” He knows the risks, but it’s a chance worth taking. “the upside outweighed the risk.”  As Scheyer says.

And he has one big takeaway in mind: “We’re looking for an opponent, and Illinois obviously has a ton of talent… We went with it, found a date at the Garden, and I’m really happy we have it. Because, like you said, it feels random, but I think it’s just a wake-up call before March. This is exactly what you hope to be playing in against a big-time team in a tournament environment, and I think we’re going to learn a ton from it.”

This game is about more than bragging rights. Duke and Illinois have serious championship aspirations. Illinois had one of its all-time best seasons last year: 29-9 and its third Big Ten title in four seasons. Duke finished atop the AP poll with a 27-9 record. Both sides are battle-tested, and neither is willing to give an inch.

Cooper Flagg and Duke’s new generation in the spotlight

This year’s freshman class at Duke? Stacked. It is the country’s No. 1 recruiting class. With six elite players — five of them rank among the top 20 players in the country by 247Sports. But the real headliner? Cooper Flagg, the country’s top prospect. The hype is for real — he’s already averaging 19+ points and 7+ rebounds per game, proving he’s every bit the game-changer people projected him to be.

And he’s not the only young star set to break through. Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Patrick Ngongba II, Khaman Maluach and Darren Harris also are new faces on Duke’s roster who will be looking to make their impact. But championships aren’t won on talent alone. And that’s where the transfer portal comes in, experience matters.

To offset the youth, Duke also added a few experienced players. A Tulane transfer, Sion James can score and lead. Mason Gillis, who hit almost 47% of his threes at Purdue, provides that deep-range shooting every team covets. Then there is Maliq Brown, a rugged defender from Syracuse who brings a physical edge despite being banged up.  Ice them together with returning stars Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, and all of a sudden, Duke has a roster that’s as deep as it appears to be talented.

Saturday’s game isn’t just another tick off the schedule — it’s a statement opportunity. Duke’s blend of high-upside freshmen and wily transfers are in for a reality check under the bright lights of MSG. And Illinois? They’ll look to lean on their experience to test the Blue Devils.

For Scheyer, this game is not just about the scoreboard. It’s about teaching his team to succeed in high-flying moments. March Madness is just around the corner, and if the Devils dream of going deep in the tournament, this is just the type of challenge they need to face. Call it a “wake-up call” — and one that could set the tone for the rest of their season.