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Duke Basketball: 10 predictions for the Blue Devils’ 2018-19 season

By Lukas Harkins

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: The Duke Blue Devils cheerleaders carry their schools flags on to the court prior to the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional against the Kansas Jayhawks at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: The Duke Blue Devils cheerleaders carry their schools flags on to the court prior to the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional against the Kansas Jayhawks at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy dribbles. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

5. R.J. Barrett will be a NPOY finalist but not win

Fans and writers everywhere have placed extremely high expectations on incoming freshman R.J. Barrett. The top-ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class, Barrett will be expected to carry more of the offensive load for Duke than anyone else. An excellent scorer at all three levels, Barrett could easily put up ~20 points per game in his first (and only) college season. If this is the case and Duke is as good as expected (top-5 team), then he will have a case to win National Player of the Year.

National hype can go a long way in someone contending for the NPOY award and Barrett will certainly receive that. He is playing for arguably the biggest fanbase in the country and for one of the most storied programs. Add that to the fact that his style of play yields excellent counting stats and highlight reel plays and it makes sense that he will compete. In my preseason NPOY watchlist, Barrett comes in at No. 1.

However, it would be a very bold prediction to make to actually pick him to win. Even if he turns out to be the best player in college hoops, the safe preseason bet for the award would be (close your eyes, Duke fans) North Carolina’s Luke Maye. Regardless of who actually takes home the award, my prediction is that Barrett makes his way to the ceremony as a finalist but does not walk away the victor. I don’t think that will matter much to Barrett, though, if Duke cuts down the final nets in April.

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