By SAM LANCE
The CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic will feature Duke and Arkansas next season, the event announced on Thursday. The game will tipoff at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 27, from the United Center in Chicago.
“I’m really excited to be back in Chicago and in the United Center with our team,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said. “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to approach our schedule, and playing on Thanksgiving night on primetime TV is anothre great chance to showcase Duke basketball on a national stage against a great opponent. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
This game is set to feature some marquee freshman and future NBA lottery picks. The Blue Devils have 2025’s No. 3 overall prospect in Cameron Boozer signed, as well as Cayden Boozer, Shelton Henderson and Nikolas Khamenia. Arkansas may have the best freshman guard duo in the country next season with Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas.
Arkansas and Illinois played in this season’s event. The Razorbacks lost 90-77.
“In what will be one of the most watched college basketball games in the last decade, we could not be more excited to be playing on Thanksgiving Day against Duke on CBS again this season,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said. “This past year playing on Thanksgiving Day was a great experience and great exposure for our program, as well as all of college basketball. This will be an NCAA Tournament-caliber game that will show us exactly where our team is at that point of the season. These high level games help prepare you for March.”
The Razorbacks are 18-12 this season and find themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Duke sits atop the ACC and 27-3 overall. The Blue Devils are in line for a No. 1 seed in March Madness.
“Duke has had an incredible season this year,” Calipari said. “And Jon Scheyer has done a great job taking the reins of that program. We are looking forward to the challenge in a highly coveted matchup.”
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