Duke Basketball: Breaking down Blue Devils’ non-conference schedule

Duke released its non-conference schedule on Monday morning. What are the Blue Devils in for this season?

A rollercoaster of a season plagued by injuries, midseason struggles and, of course, tripping incidents, Duke could not catch a break last season. No. 1 recruit Harry Giles was expected to be in for a fantastic year, but injuries held him to just 11.5 minutes per contest. Freshman sensation Jayson Tatum suffered a preseason foot injury that lingered for a considerable duration. Marques Bolden, another freshman, missed over a dozen games with a leg injury. Preseason Player of the Year Grayson Allen, well, got a bit of a reputation, if you will.

Despite losing several key departures, namely Jayson Tatum, Luke Kennard, and Amile Jefferson, plenty of incoming talent should reasonably make Duke a national contender next season. A five-star trio of point guard Trevon Duval, power forward Wendell Carter and shooting guard Gary Trent should be able to replace holes in the roster. Four-star small forward Jordan Tucker and four-star shooting guard Alex O’Connell will take on chief bench roles. Three-star shooting guard Jordan Goldwire wraps up the outstanding 2017 recruiting class.

While the majority of last year’s production is leaving, Duke should be pleased senior guard Grayson Allen (14.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.5 APG) and sophomore big man Marques Bolden (1.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG) will be returning for the 2017-18 season. A former five-star recruit, Bolden was limited to minuscule opportunities due to an aforementioned injury as well as a congested front court. Nonetheless, a starting or sixth man role this season will mount his numbers.

How will Duke perform during its non-conference portion of the schedule in the 2017-18 season? I break down everything you need to know.