Duke Blue Devils
Projected Starting Lineup
Head Coach: Jon Scheyer (3rd season)
Guard: Tyrese Proctor (JR)
Guard: Sion James (5th year)
Guard: Kon Knueppel (FR)
Forward: Cooper Flagg (FR)
Forward: Maliq Brown (JR)
Key Additions
Maliq Brown (Syracuse)
Mason Gillis (Purdue)
Sion James (Tulane)
Cooper Flagg (5-star recruit)
Khaman Maluach (5-star recruit)
Isaiah Evans (4-star recruit)
Kon Knueppel (4-star recruit)
Patrick Ngongba (4-star recruit)
Darren Harris (4-star recruit)
2023-2024 Result: 27-9 (15-5 ACC), 4 Seed, Elite 8 appearance
Key Losses
Jared McCain
Kyle Filipowski
Sean Stewart
Jeremy Roach
Mark Mitchell
Starting with the defense, this Blue Devils squad has the upside to become the best defense in the country. It starts with the elite rim protection and athleticism in the frontcourt as Flagg, Brown, and Maluach all have top tier skill on that end. The versatility of the frontcourt is what has me most excited about this group, with Flagg and Brown being able to defend multiple positions along with the ability to defend the rim when Maluach gets pulled to the perimeter. Foster and Proctor are also above average defenders in their own right. This roster in general is loaded with elite size and athleticism and there is no player that is under 6’4”. The positional size in itself is going to give this team a high defensive floor, but when you add in the athleticism and playmaking ability it gives this team a chance to be special on that end.
As for the offense, I am a little lower on them than others. There is a lot of individual talent on this end, but the floor spacing could become a slight issue. This will depend on a few things, starting with Cooper Flagg’s ability to hit catch and shoot 3s. His 3-point shot has been one of his main concerns as a prospect, although it is improving. This will be a massive swing skill for him to help this team reach its ceiling. The floor spacing will also depend on how Jon Scheyer runs his rotations, beginning with who starts in the frontcourt with Flagg and Maluach. If Scheyer goes with Maliq Brown it may really hurt the floor spacing and clog up driving lanes, but the good part about this is that Scheyer will have other serviceable options, as Sion James and Mason Gillis can bring some extra offensive firepower if needed. While I am a little lower on Gillis, Sion James should be able to slot into the lineup as a solid connector piece for this offense. They also have other young pieces in Isiah Evans and Kon Knueppel, but their ability to play meaningful minutes as Freshmen remains to be seen.
While the floor spacing could turn into a problem, the playmaking ability of Tyrese Proctor and Cooper Flagg is going to be the biggest X-factor for the Blue Devils, but I am personally a bit skeptical of them being able to carry an offense at a championship level. Proctor has a ton of talent, but he hasn’t shown the ability to be an alpha within an offense when given the opportunity and there are concerns about Flagg’s ball handling and decision making in the half court. This offense is still likely to be a top 25 unit with its top tier talent, but they are going to have to prove they are elite operating in the half court against quality competition before I see them as a national title favorite.
Overall, the Blue Devils have a pretty high floor because of the athleticism and versatility of this roster, but I am willing to say they have enough question marks on the offensive side of the ball that will make them beatable on any given night in the ACC. But if I am wrong and the offense turns into a top tier unit, they should be the national title favorite. They are also still the ACC favorite in my eyes.