Duke is back.
For a team that has won 86 games in the last three seasons, finishing ninth twice and 12th once in the final AP poll and reaching a Final Four, it’s hard to say that Duke went anywhere.
This isn’t the Duke of recent years, however—not “merely good” Duke. This is steal your soul, dominate the news cycle Duke, the Duke that Spike Lee, Barack Obama and LeBron James came to watch. With the best freshmen class in the country, joined by a murderers’ row of transfers, no team boasts a more talented roster heading into the season.
Last season:
Led by defending ACC Player of the Year Kyle Filipowski, fourth-year senior Jeremy Roach and freshman Jared McCain, Duke won 27 games, finishing second in the ACC with a 15-5 mark. NC State’s miracle March run to the Final Four was built on the back of the Blue Devils. State upset Duke in the ACC Quarterfinals, then topped Duke in the Elite Eight, after Duke had upset top seed Houston in the Sweet 16.
Departures:
Filipowski is gone to the NBA. McCain is gone, too, one-and-done to the league. Roach transferred for his final COVID season. In fact, between expiring eligibility (Ryan Young) and transfer (Mark Mitchell, Sean Stewart, Jalen Blakes, TJ Power and Christian Reeves), just about everyone is gone. Duke returns just four players from last year’s roster—just two who were in the regular playing rotation as the team went with a full offseason rebuild.
Newcomers:
Having the top recruiting class in the nation is nothing new for Duke, but the Blue Devils have an NBA-ready assemblage of talent that is harkening comparisons to the 2018-19 class—The Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett class. Cooper Flagg is a 6-foot-9 wing who can play inside and out and is expected to be drafted first overall next spring.
He’s joined by South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach, a 7-foot-2 shot blocker and lob finisher. Kon Knueppel, a sharpshooter out of Wisconsin, may end up being the team’s leading scorer. And all three have a killer instinct on the level of the class of 19. They’re joined by three other four and five star freshmen, as well as veteran transfers Sion James (Tulane), Mason Gillis (Purdue) and Maliq Brown (Syracuse), who combined to average 30.4 points and 16.5 rebounds for power conference programs last season.
Other players of note:
Duke returns junior guard Tyrese Proctor, who seems to be following in the mold of Roach and Quinn Cook, moving off the ball later in his career to contribute to scoring instead of playmaking. Ball-handling is being shifted to fellow returnee Caleb Foster, who returns for his sophomore season. The Harrisburg native has also shown signs that he can hold his own on the scoring front as well.
Best case:
The sky is the limit for this group. The freshmen have been stone-cold killers in Duke’s two exhibition games, providing versatility, energy and size. The two returning guards and the imported experience will also help to keep the team on a level plane as the season goes on. Duke appears to have the depth to withstand injuries that might have derailed previous promising seasons.
Biggest concern:
Any time a freshman class with visions of the NBA Draft join an experienced roster, culture clash is a potential risk. It’s early, but so far, everyone seems to be playing well together. Chemistry will likely be something the coaching staff keeps a watchful eye on, as the temptation to worry about shot attempts and minutes played grows throughout the year.
Key games:
Duke will get tested in the non-conference season, with games against Kentucky and Kansas on neutral courts. The Blue Devils also return a visit from Arizona, who won at Cameron last season, and host Auburn in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Duke’s ACC draw is favorable. The Blue Devils play Virginia just once and avoid a trip to Virginia Tech, which always seems to hold the promise of an upset loss. Duke also avoids a California trip in the new, expanded ACC. January 27 will be the Blue Devils’ chance to get revenge on NC State for last postseason, at Cameron. They don’t play at State—another annual trap game for Duke—this season. The two rivalry games with UNC are February 1 at Cameron and March 8, in Chapel Hill.
Bottom line:
Barring an injury/chemistry disaster, Duke will be on the short list of national title contenders. The Blue Devils should challenge for the league title and, on good nights, will look theoretically unbeatable. Like the early 90s and the Zion/RJ Duke teams, it will be one of those seasons that fans and haters alike will be talking about for years to come.
