NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2024-25 season

6. Duke Blue Devils

Thanks to the NBA Draft, there’s always a big turnaround for talent for Duke. Leading scorers Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain went pro as expected. However, not even the blue-blood Blue Devils were safe from the transfer portal, losing starting guard Jeremy Roach, Mark Mitchell, several underclassmen, and former five-star prospects.

Who is back for Duke is the backcourt duo of Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster. Both started games for the Blue Devils and could start again, joined by Sion James. The transfer from Tulane averaged 14.0 ppg and 5.4 rpg, shooting 51% from the field and 38% from three-point range.

Once again, Duke has another No. 1 incoming recruiting class, led by top prospect Cooper Flagg. The 6’9 forward has garnered All-American talk and is the early projected top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. If he’s as good as advertised, then a top-10 ranking will be warranted. Other incoming five-star freshmen to watch include wings Kon Knueppel, Isaiah Evans, and center prospect Khaman Maluach.

Even with top-20 freshman center Patrick Ngongba reportedly suffering an injury, there’s plenty of frontcourt depth to support Flagg. Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown was an All-ACC defender, while Mason Gillis was the Big Ten 6th Man of the Year at Purdue, shooting over 45% from deep. It’s another talented group with talent and experience, good enough to make a deep run in March.