GAINESVILLE — Florida will host Duke in the marquee match of the annual SEC-ACC Challenge, UF announced Friday.
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The Blue Devils will visit the O’Connell Center during the 2026-27 a season, one year after Florida traveled to Durham and suffered a 67-66 loss at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Both programs are expected to enter the season ranked among the nation’s top five teams, with the Gators likely in the top spot after returning six of their top seven scorers along with the frontcourt of Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh. Each received postseason recognition after the Gators led the nation in rebounding, won the SEC regular season and earned a No. 1 national seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Gators’ 73-72 loss to Iowa in the second round spurred the trio to return to school for their senior seasons. Chinyelu, Condon and Haugh combined for an average of 43.1 points and 24.8 rebounds.
Florida also returns starting point guard Boogie Fland and SEC Sixth Man of the Year Urban Klavzar.
Guard Denzel Aberdeen also transferred back from Kentucky after spending a season with the Wildcats after the Orlando native helped the Gators to the 2025 national title. Aberdeen, a former Dr. Phillips standout, has applied for an NCAA waiver for a fifth season and could join a deep guard rotation that includes Fland, Klavzar, Isaiah Brown, AJ Brown and Alex Lloyd.
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Golden also added two intriguing international prospects: 6-foot-10 forward Arturas Butajevas of Lithuania and 6-foot-9 Domen Petrovic of Slovenia.
Duke, meanwhile, lost All-American center Cameron Boozer to the NBA draft after one season in Durham. But Jon Scheyer’s squad returns starting point guard Cayden Boozer, veteran guard Caleb Foster and center Patrick Ngongba II, a projected first-round pick in 2027.
The Blue Devils also added Wisconsin transfer guard John Blackwell, who averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting nearly 39% from 3-point range.
The Gators won their only previous home game in the SEC-ACC Challenge, an 87-69 victory against Virginia on Dec. 4, 2025.
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Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]