Duke has the kind of roster that makes people stop and stare in October. On paper, the Blue Devils look every bit like a national title contender, and The Athletic took that a step further by slotting them No. 1 in America.
That ranking comes with the usual preseason caution, though. Duke can be loaded and still have to prove it when the games start getting tight - in March Madness, in the ACC, in all the places where talent alone stops being enough.
Still, there’s no denying the appeal of what Jon Scheyer put together. The Athletic’s CJ Moore pointed to the Blue Devils’ depth as the headline issue, and it’s a fair one.
Duke is so deep that “two top 25 recruits - Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard - ride the bench” is not an impossible scenario. Moore also noted how tricky it can be to make that much talent fit together, even while crediting Scheyer for handling it well so far.
“Key to season: Chemistry. Duke has more depth than anyone in college basketball.
It’s possible two top 25 recruits - Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard - ride the bench. Making all of Duke’s talent work cohesively can be a challenge.
Jon Scheyer has done it very, very well so far, but the pecking order has been clear in the last few years with a superstar power forward.
“Maybe that’s the case this year with Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, but he’s just 17 and John Blackwell averaged 19.1 points per game last year at Wisconsin. Plus, Patrick Ngngogba II has been waiting his turn to be the guy. These are first-world problems and do not seem to be bothering the Blue Devils in the preseason,” CJ Moore of The Athletic wrote.
The one thing that jumps out here is just how much Duke has in reserve. Boumtje Boumtje is only 17, Blackwell comes in after averaging 19.1 points per game at Wisconsin, and Patrick Ngongba II has been waiting for his shot. That’s a good problem to have, and right now it doesn’t sound like it’s rattling the Blue Devils at all.
If the discussion is pure talent, Duke belongs in the top spot. The larger question is how quickly that talent settles into a team, because in this version of college basketball, that adjustment period is real. Duke will have to sort through it like everyone else.
But Scheyer’s teams tend to play with purpose, and that matters. For all the preseason buzz, the real test is still ahead: Duke has to show up when it matters most.
In Other News...
Duke Fans Have One Huge Reason To Watch Asa Montgomery Today
There is plenty happening around Duke right now, but the spotlight today is on the recruiting trail, where five-star small forward Asa Montgomery is expected to announce his college commitment. For a program that keeps landing in the conversation for elite talent, this is the kind of decision that can shape both the immediate future and the long view, especially with the Blue Devils already carrying momentum from a roster that includes names like Kager Knueppel and Luke Paul.
The timing adds to the buzz, too, with former Duke standouts Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer off to strong starts in the NBA and the football program gearing up for a key home game against Boston College during a demanding stretch. Still, for basketball fans, Montgomerys announcement is the headline worth circling, because it could give Duke another major piece to build around and keep the programs talent pipeline rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Freshmen Just Gave Jon Scheyer A Real Rotation Problem
Duke is coming out of preseason with something every coach wants and every rotation chart hates: options. As the Blue Devils get ready to host Army in their regular-season opener, a handful of freshmen have already made the case that they belong in the mix, with Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Deron Rippey Jr., Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard all showing different flashes of what they can bring. For Jon Scheyer, the early challenge is less about finding talent than figuring out how to sort through it.
The upside is obvious, but so is the uncertainty that comes with freshmen learning the pace and demands of college basketball. Some of those roles figure to change from game to game as Duke settles in, which gives the staff flexibility but also creates a tricky balancing act once the games start counting. The opener should offer a first real look at how much trust Scheyer is willing to place in that young group right away. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Faces A Real Test As Boston College Brings New Momentum
Boston College is showing up to this Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with a little more life than its record might suggest, and Duke will have to be ready for it. The Eagles have pieced together back-to-back comeback wins, leaning on the kind of late-game resilience that can change the feel of a season, and now they get their first meeting with Duke since 2022 in a game that should tell both teams something.
For the Blue Devils, the timing is interesting after a close win over Virginia, the kind of game that can either sharpen a team or leave it vulnerable if the edge slips. Duke will be watching its own health as well, with Walker Eget expected to play despite a recent finger injury, while Boston College brings Mason McKenzie, Bo MacCormack III and a bit of momentum into a matchup that suddenly looks more demanding than it might have a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]