Duke Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Blue Devils
By Joey Loose
Projected Starters
Guard – Jeremy Roach (Senior)
The veteran on this Duke squad, Roach is back for another year at the point and is coming off a very impressive junior year. He averaged 13.6 points and 3.1 assists last year while shooting the ball even better than as a sophomore. While the Blue Devils are elated to have Roach back for a fourth season, his experience and leadership in itself makes him one of the most important pieces on this roster.
Guard – Tyrese Proctor (Sophomore)
One of the those fantastic pieces back for a second season, Proctor started off slow as a freshman but played his best ball down the stretch for the Blue Devils. He put up 9.4 points and 3.3 assists per game and will have an even more important role in the backcourt this season. If he takes another leap forward and regain his outside shot as a sophomore, then he can be an All-ACC type weapon for this Duke squad.
Guard – Jared McCain (Freshman)
A 5-star recruit from California, McCain is one of the best scorers and shooters among this year’s national crop of freshmen. He showed the potential to put up monster numbers and can put the ball into the basket from nearly every spot on the court, especially as a mid-range shooter. It’s uncertain if he’ll be the starter the whole year, but he’ll get significant minutes right out of the gate.
Forward – Mark Mitchell (Sophomore)
Sometimes forgotten last season among Duke’s sea of talented frontcourt weapons, Mitchell had a pretty solid freshman campaign and also opted to return for season two. He did a little bit of everything for the Blue Devils, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while also hitting a decent clip from outside. He should also make strides towards becoming a more complete and explosive player in his second season.
Center – Kyle Filipowski (Sophomore)
Named ACC Rookie of the Year last season, Filipowski became the star of Scheyer’s first recruiting class, averaging 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He was the ACC Tournament MVP and played great basketball late in the year. Now, he’s back perhaps surprisingly for a sophomore year where he could be even better, with more opportunities around the rim as a true center. Last year’s leading scorer and rebounder for the Blue Devils returns as a preseason All-American with heightened expectations.