Fresh off of a season in which they were privileged with one of the best college basketball players we’ve ever seen, the Duke Blue Devils are in for yet another year of title contention under the legendary Coach K. Projected as Def Pen Sports’ top team in the ACC, this is one of Duke’s more well-constructed rosters since they went down the one-and-done route. It may see them rewarded with their first ACC regular-season title since 2010.
Of course, the ACC is as strong as always, with UNC, Louisville, Virginia, and even NC State and Florida State likely to give the Blue Devils some trouble over the course of the year. But Coach K’s squad is going to be as good as ever, with a solid blend of talented newcomers and experience.
Key Returners
- Tre Jones
- Alex O’Connell
- Javin DeLaurier
- Jack White
- Jordan Goldwire
The most notable returner is, of course, Tre Jones, who shocked the college basketball world when he elected to return for his sophomore year. Jones will operate as the engine of this team as the point guard and likely the best player. O’Connell, DeLaurier, White, and Goldwire provide valuable depth as they will make up most of the bench unit, with DeLaurier being a legitimate NBA prospect given his rim protection abilities and offensive efficiency.
Key Losses
- Zion Williamson
- RJ Barrett
- Cam Reddish
- Marques Bolden
The three stars of Duke’s heralded 2018 recruiting class – Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish – all predictably moved on to the NBA. Their production will likely prove difficult to replace, as Williamson was a truly generational talent and Barrett was also exceptionally productive in his lone season with the Blue Devils. Bolden is a former five-star big man who never blossomed into a high caliber player with Duke but elected to go pro following his junior season. He would’ve provided this team with more valuable depth.
Key Newcomers
- Vernon Carey
- Matthew Hurt
- Wendell Moore
- Cassius Stanley
- Joey Baker*
Vernon Carey, Matthew Hurt, and Wendell Moore are Coach K’s big fish in this recruiting cycle. Carey and Hurt are two of the elite frontcourt prospects in the 2019 class, with both of them sitting in the top 10. Carey is similar to former Duke star Jahlil Okafor and is built to dominate the college game. Hurt is an exceptionally skilled big man who has deep range. Moore is an intriguing forward prospect with a very solid all-around game.
The “other guy” of Duke’s recruiting class is Cassius Stanley, an ultra-athletic shooting guard who will pose a problem for enemy teams in the fast break. Joey Baker, meanwhile, isn’t technically a newcomer – he played 18 minutes last year after being expected to redshirt – but he will be new to the rotation and. He was a five-star recruit in the 2019 class before reclassifying to 2018, so he could be a valuable contributor off the bench for the Blue Devils.
Incoming Duke freshman Matthew Hurt is set for a big college basketball season ? Most skilled bigman in his class @HurtMatthew
Full ?: https://t.co/rWRo8Yfvha pic.twitter.com/uBL5uBOceG
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) August 15, 2019
Projected Starting Five
- Tre Jones
- Cassius Stanley
- Wendell Moore
- Matthew Hurt
- Vernon Carey
Duke’s starting lineup will likely consist of their four incoming freshmen in addition to point guard Tre Jones. The shooting in the backcourt will be subpar at best, but it’s offset to some extent by the fact that their frontcourt – mostly Matthew Hurt – is capable of stretching the floor. Wendell Moore is the perfect glue-guy to put things together as a player who can both knock down outside shots and play defense at a high level.
Season Outlook
Whereas last year’s team was largely a jumble of talent that didn’t fit together, this year’s team has both talent (though not quite as much) and cohesiveness. Each member of the rotation will play a distinct but important role. For the past few seasons, Duke has the most talented squad in the ACC, and it clearly does not always translate to a regular-season title. They do not, however, always have a mix of fit and talent, and that’s what will be different this year.
The Blue Devils have a very solid shot of winning the ACC, but one thing that will be interesting to see is if Coach K is still one of the nation’s top in-game coaches. There were some situations that he mismanaged last season, and without a Zion Williamson to mask any potential deficiencies, we could see the legendary coach get some more flak for it this year.
Record Prediction: 25-7 (15-5)
The Blue Devils start off the season against Kansas in Madison Square Garden, a game which I predict them dropping due to the Jayhawks’ experience. They also have Michigan State in their non-conference slate, which will likely be the best team in the country and have a good shot at handing Duke another loss. During ACC play, they could drop games against Louisville, Virginia, and one of two against UNC, while also losing two games that they shouldn’t. This would give them a conference record of 15-5 and an overall record of 25-7, both of which are very respectable.
