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Amazon’s Prime Video dives into college sports in partnership with Duke men’s basketball

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Streaming provider Prime Video is diving into college sports by partnering with one of college basketball’s biggest brands: Duke.

Amazon and Duke announced Thursday they had reached a multiyear agreement to broadcast three of the Blue Devils’ neutral-site nonconference matchups per season. This marks the first college partnership for Prime Video, which has aired NFL and NBA games among other sports.

This fall’s broadcasts include a Nov. 25 matchup between Duke and UConn in Las Vegas, a rematch of the Huskies’ comeback from 19 down to win on a last-second shot in the NCAA Elite Eight. Next is a Dec. 21 matchup against reigning NCAA champion Michigan in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Finally, Duke will face Gonzaga on Feb. 20 in Detroit.

“Duke basketball games transcend the schedule,” said Charlie Neiman, Prime Video’s head of sports partnerships, “and the creation of this all-new offering gives fans more of what we all want, marquee matchups featuring the most successful programs in the nation.”

In its release, Duke said the Blue Devils have also agreed to participate in additional events owned and operated by ESPN across the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons “in exchange for the flexibility” to schedule the Prime Video events. Those come as part of ESPN’s partnership with Duke’s Atlantic Coast Conference home.

In a statement, Duke athletic director Nina King said the deal “expands the global reach” for the program that has won five NCAA championships.

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World’s tallest basketball player, 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, signs with UC Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — The world’s tallest college basketball player is going coast to coast. Former Florida walk-on Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 center from Canada and one of the most recognizable student-athletes in North America, announced Thursday he has signed with UC Irvine. The school in Southern California announced his arrival hours earlier. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community," UC Irvine coach Russell Turner said in a statement. "He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. "We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.”
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