Duke Basketball: 10 predictions for the Blue Devils’ 2018-19 season
Duke basketball enters every single season as a preseason favorite to win the national title. Here are some predictions for how 2018-19 might go.
There are very few things that people can expect to occur every single year. Taxes, holidays, major sporting events, “overrated” Gonzaga, and Duke being a preseason a top-5 team are just some of those things. Yet, there are always good reasons for the last one. Looking at 2018-19, the main reason is especially clear. Despite Duke losing its entire starting lineup to the NBA, the program is bringing in arguably the greatest recruiting class of all time.
With plenty of incoming talent to go along with a couple of returning reserves, Duke looks poised for yet another incredible season. Mike Krzyzewski is also still at the helm as one of the best coaches (and recruiters) in the nation. While the season may still be far away, why not get excited about it now? Duke fans have every right to look forward to the season getting started.
As has been the case since Duke moved to “one-and-done” recruiting, the biggest weakness for the team will be inexperience in 2018-19. Yet, with good coaching and fast learners, that can be overcome in only a matter of time. While the Blue Devils lack a true “leader” at this point in time due to the graduation of Grayson Allen, the team does have a couple of players who could be the best in the nation next season.
There are not many programs who can boast about having one of the top-25 players in the country, but Duke can likely brag about having two of those players. Both R.J. Barrett (No. 1) and Cam Reddish (No. 17) were placed on our preseason National Player of the Year watchlist at Busting Brackets. Now, without further ado, let’s jump into 10 predictions for this upcoming Duke basketball season.