Duke Basketball: 10 predictions for Blue Devils’ 2017-18 season

Grayson Allen wins ACC Player of the Year

Heading into the 2016-17 college basketball season, the Duke Blue Devils were the favorites to win the ACC and the preseason ACC Player of the Year was then-junior Grayson Allen.

After – excuse the pun – tripping on his expectations, Allen disappointed throughout the year, as did the preseason No. 1 Blue Devils. He returned to the Blue Devils for his senior season and will hope to prove that he was deserving of those lofty accolades – in addition to raising his NBA Draft stock.

Coming into this season, the expectations for Allen have been somewhat tempered. Still a member of the preseason first-team All-ACC team, Allen received just nine votes this time around, ceding the award to Notre Dame’s Bonzie Colson.

That being said, Allen should thrive with the pressure off. A born-scorer, Allen will no longer have to be the best player on the court night in and night out, as Bagley’s presence alleviates some of that pressure.

Don’t get me wrong, Allen knows there will be times where this team lives and dies by his play, and I think all of this culminates in him having one of the best seasons of his Duke career.

Colson is a good player and one of the best in the ACC, but you cannot win ACC Player of the Year if your team is not one of the best in the conference. Allen wins it – even if it is a year late.