8. Duke (2-0)
Many eyes will be on Duke this season due to the presence of Cooper Flagg. Expected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg is a fantastic prospect who should be a major part of the Blue Devils’ success in the coming months. This program marched to the Elite Eight last season and do have significant talent back in town, though the Blue Devils are leaning on a younger roster than many of the other elite teams this season.
The offense shined this week against inferior opposition, starting with a 96-62 win over Maine on opening night. Flagg had 18 points and 7 rebounds in his debut, though fellow freshman Kon Knueppel led the team with 22 points. Friday’s matchup wasn’t very different, with the Blue Devils winning 100-58 in a laugher against Army. Six Blue Devils scored in double figures, led again by 15 points out of Knueppel in another strong offensive showing.
These two performances prove that the Blue Devils are talented and should be an elite offensive unit, though it doesn’t tell us a lot about what to expect this season. Beating up on a couple of mid-majors is a great way for Jon Scheyer and his staff to figure out their lineups and rotation, though the real challenges start this upcoming week. Duke heads to the Champions Classic and faces off against Kentucky next Tuesday in a game in which we’ll learn a lot about both programs.