Michigan basketball, Duke renew rivalry in ‘Duel in the District’ top-3 high-stakes showdown

WASHINGTON – The No. 1-ranked Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team (25-1) steps out of Big Ten play to face No. 3 Duke (24-3) in the Edward Jones Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Tipoff on Saturday (Feb. 21) is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Saturday marks Michigan’s return to Washington, D.C., for the first time since 2021, when the No. 6 Wolverines defeated Prairie View A&M 77-49 in the Coaches vs. Racism matchup.

The last time Michigan played downtown was during the 2017 Big Ten Tournament title run at the then-Verizon Center, where the No. 8 seed won four games in four days despite a travel mishap.

Michigan makes its fifth ESPN College GameDay appearance overall and its first at a neutral site.

The Wolverines previously hosted twice (2012, 2015) and appeared twice on the road (2013, 2014).

The matchup against Duke is the first meeting between the two programs since Dec. 3, 2013, when No. 10 Duke defeated No. 22 Michigan 79-69 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Michigan’s last win over Duke came on Dec. 6, 2008, when the Wolverines upset the fourth-ranked Blue Devils 73-71 in Ann Arbor.

Michigan is enjoying one of the most dominant seasons in program history, boasting 21 wins by 10 or more points, 13 by 20 or more, 10 by 30 or more, seven by 40 or more (a Big Ten record), and one by 50 or more.

Since their 14-0 start was snapped, Michigan has won 11 straight games, including six on the road and three against top-10 opponents: No. 5 Nebraska, No. 7 Michigan State, and No. 7 Purdue.

The Wolverines’ “Big Three” — Yaxel Lendeborg (14.4 points, 7.5 rebounds per game), Morez Johnson Jr. (13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds), and Aday Mara (11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds) — account for over 45% of the team’s scoring and more than 55% of its rebounding.

Mara has been a defensive force with 71 blocks (2.73 blocks per game), recording at least one block in every game.

He ranks third nationally with 22 multi-block games, including a career-high six blocks vs. Penn State.

Over his last four games, Mara has also contributed 16 assists (4.0 per game), including a career-best seven at Northwestern.

L.J. Cason has stepped up recently with four double-figure scoring games in his last five, highlighted by a career-best 18 points at Northwestern.

He is shooting 58.8% from the field and 9-for-27 from three-point range over that span.

Sixth man Trey McKenney continues to excel, with 18 double-figure games, a team-best 90.5% free-throw percentage (including 15 consecutive makes), and 43 three-pointers.