Duke Basketball: Blue Devils pose as serious of a threat as anyone
Duke basketball’s current six-game win streak proves that they have the highest ceiling in college basketball.
After dealing with injuries to three of their four five-star freshmen, Grayson Allen turmoil, Amile Jefferson sitting out due to a foot injury, Coach K taking a leave of absence to deal with a back injury and a team that was still trying to find their chemistry and footing, Duke is finally looking like a National Championship contender.
Related Story: Blue Devils take down Virginia on the road
Remember when Duke couldn’t guard against Virginia Tech, Florida State, and Louisville? Remember when they got beat at home by a bad NC State team? Remember when they were barely edging out teams like Tennessee State and Elon in the non-conference portion of the schedule?
That feels like years ago because the Blue Devils are suddenly on a six-game winning streak and are a game back of first place in the ACC standings. A GAME!
Duke Blue Devils Basketball
During this recent stretch, Duke has beaten bubble team Wake Forest on the road, Notre Dame on the road, Pittsburgh at home in Coach K’s first game back, UNC at home in an impressive eight point win, Clemson at home after they spent a majority of their energy two days earlier against UNC, and Virginia in Charlottesville.
Most importantly, Grayson Allen is rolling (other than last night at least), Luke Kennard continues to play well, and Jayson Tatum is starting to get a feel for the college game (he looks like a star). The Blue Devils are finally figuring out their roles as they look more comfortable playing with one another on offense, look in tune defensively and aren’t battling for shots anymore. Allen, Kennard, and Tatum are the leaders of the offensive attack, and they have learned when to get “theirs” and when to defer to their teammates.
I’ve said it countless times this season, if Duke gets it together and gets healthy they have the highest ceiling in all of college basketball. They have more talent than any team in college basketball…and honestly, it might not be close.
Duke has gone from a team searching for answers to a team that is one of the favorites to win the National Championship.
Next: Updated Bubble Watch and the Mailbag
Sure, they still have issues that need to be resolved — will Harry Giles ever be the Harry Giles of old? When is Jefferson going to be fully healthy? Can Marques Bolden give them something defensively? Will they be able to survive without a true point guard? — but with arguably the greatest coach in college basketball history on the sideline, numerous lottery picks on the roster and the Preseason National Player of the Year on their side, can you really bet against Duke? Everything is wide open, but would it really be a shock if the Blue Devils were cutting down the nets in Glendale in April?