Duke Basketball: 10 biggest storylines heading into 2020-21 season
9. Trying to break a regular-season curse
The last 10 years have been very impressive for the Blue Devils overall as a program. They won a national title in 2015, six Sweet 16 appearances, and made the NCAA Tournament each year. But what they failed to accomplish was win an ACC regular-season championship. The last time they won at least a share of the title was in 2010, the same year the Blue Devils won it all.
Last season has to be a disappointment for Duke in that category, considering how bad rival North Carolina was overall. And with Virginia struggling out of the gate themselves, it was the Blue Devils title for the taking. But Florida State proved to be just a step ahead and took it away from Duke. Now, this program will have to deal with not only Virginia back in title contention but now a very motivated Tar Heels team that adds the No. 2 overall recruiting class and returns star forward Garrison Brooks.
Both of those teams are projected preseason top-15 teams and have high expectations. The Cavaliers in particular have proven to be a major thorn in Duke’s side and have a loaded roster capable of national title contention. UNC has a young team overall but arguably the best and deepest frontcourt in all of college basketball.
Like every season, the Blue Devils have a realistic shot to win the ACC regular-season title. But the youth and current lack of a superstar could hurt them on the road in what always is a competitive slate of conference games. Just a little slip-up is all that the opponents need to win the marathon league race so Duke has to grow up soon and enter ACC play ready to go on a run and avoid the bad losses.