The Duke Blue Devils entered the 2026-27 college basketball season with championship expectations, and they wasted little time showing why they're considered one of the nation's top teams.

No. 2 Duke opened its season Monday night with an impressive 84-50 victory over Army at Cameron Indoor Stadium, extending its remarkable streak to 27 consecutive season-opening wins.

The Blue Devils controlled the matchup from the opening minutes, using their size, defensive pressure and depth to overwhelm the Black Knights.

Dame Sarr led Duke with 16 points, while freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje added 15. Patrick Ngongba II contributed 10 points and seven rebounds as the Blue Devils began their fifth season under head coach Jon Scheyer with a convincing victory.

Duke wasted little time establishing control, opening the game with a 10-0 run before taking a 33-18 lead into halftime.

Despite struggling from beyond the arc, the Blue Devils continued to create scoring opportunities through their defense and inside presence. Army committed 24 turnovers, allowing Duke to capitalize on mistakes and prevent the Black Knights from establishing any consistent offensive rhythm.

The Blue Devils opened the second half with 11 unanswered points, further extending their advantage.

Army briefly responded with a 12-0 run fueled by its outside shooting, but the Black Knights were unable to seriously threaten Duke's lead.

Kevin McCarthy led Army with 17 points, including four three-pointers.

The victory continued one of college basketball's most impressive opening-night traditions.

Duke has not lost a season opener since 1999, when the Blue Devils fell to Stanford in overtime. Monday's victory extended that streak to 27 consecutive seasons.

The win was particularly encouraging for a Duke team looking to build on last season's 35-win campaign, which ended with a heartbreaking loss to UConn in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.

With several returning contributors and a talented group of newcomers, Scheyer has assembled another roster capable of competing among the nation's best.

Duke will face tougher challenges as the season progresses, including several matchups against nationally ranked opponents.

But Monday's performance provided a promising starting point.

For a program accustomed to competing for championships, the victory was another reminder that Duke's expectations remain as high as ever.