Duke got a home win over SMU, 82-75, but it was yet another performance that left a lot to be desired and probably had Duke fans nervous at different points. 

The final score didn’t fully capture the uneasy feeling that followed the Blue Devils into the postgame locker room. Despite the win, Jon Scheyer made it clear afterward that this was not a performance that met Duke’s standard — especially on the defensive end.

SMU shot a scorching 57 percent from the field, carving up Duke’s defense with clean looks, timely cuts, and confidence that never wavered. What made that number even more alarming was the absence of the Mustangs’ best player, Boopie Miller, who did not play. Even without their primary offensive catalyst, SMU repeatedly found ways to score, exposing breakdowns in Duke’s on-ball defense and rotations.

Those issues came to a head late. After Duke appeared to be in control for much of the second half, SMU chipped away possession by possession, eventually cutting the Blue Devils’ lead to just three points with under two minutes to play. Cameron Indoor grew tense as Duke was forced to execute down the stretch rather than coast to the finish.

That concern has been building. Over the past several games, Duke has struggled to find consistent defensive footing, often allowing opponents to get comfortable far too quickly. In the midst of those struggles, two players have quietly emerged as stabilizers: Maliq Brown and Dame Sarr. Both have become increasingly reliable defenders, bringing energy, physicality, and effort that has at times steadied Duke when things threaten to unravel.

Brown’s versatility has been especially valuable, allowing Duke to switch and recover while still protecting the paint. Sarr, meanwhile, has provided length and intensity on the perimeter, frequently drawing difficult assignments. Their impact hasn’t always shown up in the box score, but it has been evident during stretches when Duke desperately needed stops.

Offensively, Duke did enough to close it out, but as Scheyer emphasized afterward, the win masked issues that can’t be ignored. Against better teams — and healthier ones — allowing that level of efficiency simply won’t cut it.

For Duke, it was a win worth banking, but also one that reinforced how much tightening remains ahead.