Duke basketball is heading into the NCAA Event with as a lot confidence as any group within the nation. The Blue Devils are coming off a dominant ACC Event victory after working by means of the convention throughout the common season. Now, this group is the betting favourite heading into March and is led by maybe one of the best participant within the nation, Cooper Flagg. In his third season, head coach Jon Scheyer has by far his finest squad in Durham, night after making the Elite Eight final season.
Flagg got here into the 2024-25 season with huge hype because the No. 1 recruit within the nation. The Newport, Maine native was seen as a generational expertise who was anticipated to guide the Blue Devils again to the highest of the school basketball hierarchy once more. And Flagg has accomplished simply that and extra in his school profession. The do-it-all ahead leads the No. 1 group within the nation in factors, rebounds, assists, rebounds, and steals.
Due to this, Cooper has racked up a number of accolades this season, together with being named a Consensus First-team All-American and ACC Participant of the Yr. The freshman famous person can be thought-about a frontrunner for the Nationwide Faculty Participant of the Yr award. Nonetheless, Flagg is just not alone in relation to proficient first-years on this roster. Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach have additionally been key contributors this season, alongside veteran guards Sion James and Tyrese Proctor.
Duke basketball subsequently completed the season at 31-3 general and 19-1 in ACC play. That is the primary time since 2019 that the Blue Devils have earned a No. 1 as they headline the East area. This part has formidable foes, together with second-seeded Alabama, who’s coming off a Closing 4 look. After which, if the Blue Devils make it to San Antonio, there are numerous potential juggernaut opponents that this group might run into. That being mentioned, there are a number of arguments for why this group will reduce down the nets. Listed here are our the explanation why.
Why Duke will win the 2025 NCAA Event
Statistically, this Duke roster has all of the elements of a nationwide championship winner. The Blue Devils are first within the nation in offensive effectivity and third in defensive effectivity. They’re the one group to rank that extremely in each these classes. One other constructive signal is that, on a number of events, Jon Scheyer’s group has overcome adversity in the midst of a sport and proven spectacular grit. That winner’s mentality was on full show within the ACC Event.
Cooper Flagg suffered a scary ankle damage in the midst of Duke basketball’s quarterfinal matchup in opposition to Georgia Tech. The Blue Devils recovered from this monumental loss to win their convention match. That included wins in opposition to NCAA Event groups in North Carolina and Louisville within the semifinals and finals. Flagg, subsequently, might lead this squad in all main statistical classes. However these current performances showcased that that is removed from a one-man group.
Among the hesitation behind the Blue Devils’ title possibilities revolves across the youth of this squad. Whereas having a roster of a number of freshman superstars is at all times thrilling, many of those groups fell quick in March. Elite squads like John Wall’s Kentucky Wildcats in 2010 and Zion Williamson’s Duke group have been general No. 1 seeds, but fell earlier than the Closing 4. Being probably the most proficient group doesn’t at all times equate to a nationwide title in a single-elimination format.
One key to navigating the NCAA Event is having skilled guards who can hold a group calm within the midst of chaos. Elite backcourts have incessantly led applications to shocking runs by means of The Huge Dance. Duke basketball has a pair of poised guards in Sion James and Tyrese Proctor. The Blue Devils’ flooring basic was a switch from Tulane this offseason. James has been important to organizing the offense and being Duke basketball’s point-of-attack defender. The Sugar Hill, Georgia native was subsequently extremely environment friendly this yr and named to the ACC All-Defensive group.
Tyrese Proctor has been a starter on two NCAA Event runs with the Blue Devils. The junior guard was a key participant on the squad that was one win away from the Closing 4 final season. A local of Sydney, Proctor, together with Kneuppel, offers the Blue Devils extra margin for error than prior to now with their skill to area the ground. Duke basketball ranks within the prime 20 in three-point subject aim share.
General, followers and pundits would possibly examine this squad with Zion Williamson-led Blue Devils. Nonetheless, this group shares extra in frequent with the 2015 Blue Devils. That unit was led by a trio of elite freshmen within the beginning unit (Jahlil Okafor, Justice Winslow, and Tyus), with a dynamic freshman off the bench (Grayson Allen) and a composed senior guard (Tyus Jones) within the backcourt.
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This yr’s Duke has a trio of elite freshmen beginning (Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel, Khaman Maluach) with a dynamic first-year off the bench (Isaiah Evans) and has an skilled backcourt (Tyrese Proctor and Sion James). The 2015 squad, in fact, went on to win the nationwide championship in what was a fully stacked subject. This group should comply with swimsuit. Nonetheless, exterior of the youth of this squad, there’s one main concern for this group heading into the match.
The Blue Devils’ largest concern heading into the NCAA Event
It is easy. The Blue Devils want a wholesome Cooper Flagg to win the nationwide championship. They could not want the star ahead within the first spherical and even within the second spherical. However trying down the highway at potential matchups in opposition to Oregon, Arizona, Alabama, or possibly a Tennessee or Houston, Flagg must be at full energy. In most years, any of the highest eight groups within the nation this season might have all been a No. 1 seed within the 68-team subject. This sport merely has an excessive amount of expertise, parity, and depth for Duke to outlive lengthy with out its finest participant.
As of now, Flagg’s aim is to return for Friday’s sport in opposition to the winner of American and Mount St. Mary’s. He’s already resuming on-court actions and appears optimistic about enjoying once more quickly.
Different issues for the Blue Devils embody not attending to the free-throw line typically and never persistently producing turnovers from opponents. Ought to Duke basketball face an elite defensive opponent, it will likely be important for Jon Scheyer’s group to not flip the ball over as a result of it is going to probably not get a ton of additional possessions. That being mentioned, the Blue Devils are strong at offensive rebounding.
One other potential concern is simply the fact of the ACC Convention this yr. Whereas the league does are likely to overachieve within the NCAA Event, the convention gave the Blue Devils few alternatives for high quality wins this season. Duke basketball hardly ever performed consecutive tournament-caliber groups, which means the heightened competitors may very well be an adjustment for this yr’s squad. It isn’t that Duke has not confronted and overwhelmed high quality opponents. It is extra in order that it has not persistently been as battle-tested as, for instance, a program from the SEC.
Nonetheless, general, Duke basketball has as excessive of a ceiling as anybody within the nation. Jon Scheyer has confirmed to be a succesful match coach and has a squad with the expertise and expertise to return this program to the heights it skilled underneath Mike Krzyzewski. Typically, the highest decide is the suitable decide. UConn proved that final season. It could be an extended highway to San Antonio and a sixth nationwide championship, however this group deserves the good thing about the doubt to chop down the nets in April.