Duke Blue Devils
ACC (29-5, 14-4)
As expected, Duke’s impressive freshmen class led to another great season. The Blue Devils started off with a huge 118-84 victory over Kentucky and they never really looked back. And the scary thing is that this young team is still getting better.
Big Wins: 11/6 vs Kentucky (118-84), 12/20 vs Texas Tech (69-58), 2/9 at Virginia (81-71)
Bad Losses: 1/14 Syracuse (91-95), 2/20 North Carolina (72-88), 2/26 at Virginia Tech (72-77)
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski
Why They Can Surprise:
Tre Jones, Cam Reddish, RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson have all had superb freshmen campaigns. Jones, a 6-2 point guard, averages 9.3 points and 5.3 assists. He does not get the headlines, but Jones does a fine job of facilitating the offense. Reddish is a versatile 6-8 wing who can do a bit of everything. He is averaging 13.7 points per game and has stepped up his game when Williamson went down with an injury. Barrett is the team’s top scorer, averaging 22.9 points per contest and adding 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Like Reddish, Barrett is a big, versatile player who can knock down three-pointers, but he will also attack the basket much more effectively.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Since Williamson went down with an injury in the opening minute of the February 20th home game against North Carolina, Duke has struggled a bit. They lost that game and lost a week later at Virginia Tech. Perhaps the most shocking result was the 71-70 win over lowly Wake Forest at home. This is a much, much different team with Williamson and his 22.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. Williamson returned for the ACC Tournament and is back to his old ways. However, the Blue Devils were without center Marques Bolden and Duke hopes to get back his size and shot blocking abilities for the NCAA Tournament.
Probable Starters:
Tre Jones, Freshman, Guard, 9.3 ppg, 5.3 apg, 2.0 spg
Cam Reddish, Freshman, Forward, 13.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg
RJ Barrett, Freshman, Forward, 22.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.1 apg
Zion Williamson, Freshman, Forward, 22.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.2 spg, 1.8 bpg
Marques Bolden, Junior, Center, 5.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg
Key Role Players:
Alex O’Connell, Sophomore, Guard, 4.5 ppg
Jack White, Junior, Forward, 4.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Javin DeLaurier, Junior, Forward, 3.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 84.1 (7th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.4 (65, 7)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.5 (37, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.5 (16, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.5 (200, 9)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.6 (333, 13)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.9 (239, 14)
Rebound Margin: 6.3 (21, 2)
Assists Per Game: 16.1 (22, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.0 (180, 9)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Iona |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Rhode Island |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Syracuse |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Kansas |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Troy |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to South Carolina |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over North Carolina-Wilmington |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Yale |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Oregon |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Robert Morris |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over San Diego State |
| 2015 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Utah |
| 2015 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Gonzaga |
| 2015 | NCAA | National Semifinal win over Michigan State |
| 2015 | NCAA | National Final win over Wisconsin |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Mercer |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Albany |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Creighton |
| 2013 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Michigan State |
| 2013 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Louisville |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Lehigh |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Hampton |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Michigan |
| 2011 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Arizona |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over California |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Purdue |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Baylor |
| 2010 | NCAA | National Semifinal win over West Virginia |
| 2010 | NCAA | National Final win over Butler |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Binghamton |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Texas |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Villanova |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Belmont |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to West Virginia |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to VCU |
*all team stats through 3/10
