Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium has a long history of welcoming Historically Black Colleges and Universities to play games inside its hallowed walls. That's especially true for current college coaches who spent their playing days at Duke, like Kenny Blakeney.

Duke welcomed Blakeney, who is in his seventh season as head coach at Howard, when the Bisons came to Cameron Indoor Stadium in November.

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Blakeney considers the stadium home. And because of his brotherhood connections, he's been able to lead his Howard team to play on this court three different times. He said every single time for him is special.

Cameron Indoor Stadium is a cathedral of college basketball in this country. Blakeney considers this place home. And because of his brotherhood connections here, he's been able to lead his Howard team to play on this court three different times this season. And every single time for him is special."

"There's not a basketball player in America that hasn't envisioned themselves either sitting on that Duke bench or being an opponent here in Cameron Indoor Stadium," Blakeney said.

Cameron Indoor Stadium is famously one of the most difficult places to play for opposing teams. Dating back to last season, the Blue Devils have won 28 straight games here. And in four years under head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke is 59-3 at home.

"This brand, Cameron, is special in college basketball," Blakeney said. "So I wanted our brand, Howard University, [to] be associated with special brands."

On Dec. 9, Cameron Indoor Stadium opened its doors for a special game between Howard University and North Carolina A&T. It was a rematch of the 1972 MEAC Championship game, which also took place on this hallowed court.

"I do feel very comfortable, just understanding that like the same fibers that coach KB uses to have a successful team at Howard," said Howard leading scorer Bryce Harris. "He's learned a lot from here."

Harris has played his entire college career at Howard under Blakeney. Being able to play three games in Durham this season has given Harris a special perspective and a unique experience of learning about the game from Coach Blakeney, who learned so much from playing for Mike Krzyzewski. 

"Being under Coach K and having the legacy that he had while he played here, he tried to take as much as that winning championship culture and bring it to Howard University," Harris said. "And he's done that."

Blakeney utilizes his role as Howard's coach to teach his players so much more than the game of basketball. He sees strong similarities between Howard and Duke. 

"It's the reason why you chose a school like Howard University," Blakeney said. "You want to set yourself up for the next 20 to 50 years of your life, to position yourself with opportunities, resources, relationships."

Just like the relationships that Blakeney developed during his playing days at Duke. He was part of two national championship-winning teams in Durham in 1991 and 1992. His college teammates are still family to him today.

"Being able to talk to Tommy Amaker, Johnny Dawkins, David Henderson, Chris Collins, Coach K, Coach Scheyer, Tyler Thornton, who was on my staff for many years, just to be able to pick their brain and ask questions," Blakeney said.

Under Blakeney's leadership, Howard beat NC A&T on Dec. 9, 73-69. After the game, Blakeney expanded on what he was thinking about during the national anthem.

"And then I looked at the national championship banners and saw that there were five up there," Blakeney said. "And to know that I was a member in a small part of two of the five, I got chill bumps."

In today's world of constant change in college basketball, Blakeney said he's incredibly proud of how Scheyer and Duke are remaining steadfast in honoring the legacy of the program and by sharing it with those who have helped to build the program's history.

"It's wonderful during this unique era of NIL and the transfer portal," Blakeney said. "And the innovative, creative, you know, ways in which Jon (Scheyer) is moving is, is neat." 

"Do you ever get tired of coming here?" Blakeney was asked.

"No, never," he responded.

The Duke Brotherhood is part of his DNA, and that will never go away.