#1 Seed
ACC
Key Wins:
- #21 Arizona
- #4 Auburn
- #10 Louisville
Key Losses:
- #18 Kentucky
- #12 Clemson
- Kansas
Key Tournament Victories:
At this point, Duke University’s men’s basketball program is widely recognized as the most acclaimed and accomplished team in the entire nation—for good reason. The Blue Devils have now reached the Final Four 18 times, with five of those resulting in national championships. This year’s Duke squad is led by coach Jon Scheyer, successor to legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Scheyer has lived up to the Blue Devil expectation, finishing the regular season ranked #1 in the AP polls and defeating both #2 Alabama and #4 Arizona during the postseason tournament. Moreover, the Blue Devils have had an incredible statistical season, ranked No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency and fourth in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Blue Devils are led by their knight in shining armor, Cooper Flagg. The 6’9” 18-year-old is a do-it-all player, averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks. Flagg is most known for his winning nature, a trait that has led his team to the Final Four. The Maine-native teenager is a finalist for the Wooden Award, ACC Player and Rookie of the Year, and is a consensus First Team All-American. Offensively, Flagg is a matchup nightmare, given his ability to play out of the post, high-post, wing, act as a primary ball-handler, or lead a Blue Devil fastbreak, bound to posterize a defender and land himself on the daily SportsCenter highlight reel.
On the opposite side of the court, Flagg bears veteran defensive instincts, intimidating offensive players with his quickness and agility. Duke’s lineup also features two other star freshmen:
- Kon Knueppel
- Khaman Maluach
both projected top 10 NBA picks. Knueppel, a Wisconsin native, is a natural three-level scorer who shoots the ball at an efficient rate, while Maluach, a 7’2” native of South Sudan, is a dominant paint presence, impacting the game on both ends of the floor. The dominant lineup doesn’t stop there.
Tyrese Proctor and Isaiah Evans are the Blue Devils’ elite sharpshooters, while Sion James and Caleb Foster manage the game from the point guard position.
For Duke to complete their national championship conquest, they simply have to continue their play style. With seven of their players able to take over a game at any time, the Blue Devils should have no trouble sustaining their offensive dominance, and with the defensive prowess of Flagg and Maluach, opposing teams will have difficulty sustaining their offense. Duke’s main flaw stems from their lack of experience, given that the Blue Devils start three freshmen and play four 18-year-olds. A lack of experience shines brightest in the biggest stages, and if Duke’s young core struggles to handle the pressure of a tight Final Four matchup, their title hopes could quickly unravel, despite their overwhelming talent.
