Michigan
Duke
Top-Ranked Wolverines Set for Capital Showcase Clash With No. 3 Duke in D.C.
2/19/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The top-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team (25-1) steps out of conference play and heads to the nation's capital to face No. 3 Duke (24-3) in the Edward Jones Capital Showcase presented by Bad Boy Mowers at Capital One Arena. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN, with Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas and Kris Budden on the call, while both teams will also be featured on ESPN's College GameDay ahead of the matchup.
Notes
• Michigan returns to Washington, D.C., for the first time since 2021, when No. 6 U-M defeated Prairie View A&M 77-49 in the Coaches vs. Racism matchup.
• The Wolverines' last game in downtown D.C. came during the 2017 Big Ten Tournament title run at the Verizon Center (now Capital One Arena), when the No. 8 seed won four games in four days after the team plane slid off the runway en route to the nation's capital.
• Michigan (2-2) makes its fifth ESPN College GameDay appearance — previously hosting twice (2012, 2015) and appearing twice on the road (2013, 2014). This will be its first at a neutral site.
• Michigan meets Duke for the first time since Dec. 3, 2013 -- a span of 12 years, two months and 18 days (4,463 days). In that ACC/Big Ten Challenge game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, No. 10 Duke defeated No. 22 Michigan 79-69.
• U-M's last win over Duke came on Dec. 6, 2008 — 17 years, two months and 15 days (6,283 days). After falling in the 2K Sports Classic semifinal at Madison Square Garden, the Wolverines upset the fourth-ranked Blue Devils 73-71 in Ann Arbor less than two weeks later.
• At 25-1, Michigan is producing one of the most dominant seasons in program history: 21 wins by 10+ points, 13 by 20+, 10 by 30+, seven by 40+ (Big Ten record) and one by 50+.
• Since its 14-0 start was snapped, Michigan has won 11 straight, including six road victories and three top-10 wins -- No. 5 Nebraska (75-72), at No. 7 Michigan State (83-71) and at No. 7 Purdue (91-80).
• Michigan's "Big Three" -- Yaxel Lendeborg (14.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Morez Johnson Jr. (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Aday Mara (11.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg) -- account for over 45 percent of the team's scoring and more than 55 percent of its rebounding.
• Mara has 71 blocks (2.73 bpg), recording at least one in every game. He ranks third nationally with 22 multi-block games, including a career-high six vs. Penn State.
• Over his last four games, Mara has added playmaking with 16 assists (4.0 apg), including a career-best seven at Northwestern.
• After six double-figure games in his first 20 contests, L.J. Cason has four in his last five -- highlighted by a career-best 18 at Northwestern -- while shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 9-for-27 from three over that span.
• Trey McKenney continues to thrive in a sixth-man role: 18 double-figure games, a team-best 90.5 percent at the free-throw line (15 consecutive) and 43 three-pointers.
