Duke coach Jon Scheyer navigated the unenviable job of changing the legendary Mike Krzyzewski with cheap success final season, guiding an inexperienced Blue Devils’ squad to a 27-9 document, the ACC Match title and a No. 5 seed within the NCAA Match. However because the 35-year-old former Duke star enters his second season on the job, the strain to carry out is not going wherever.
The Blue Devils misplaced within the second spherical of the 2023 NCAA Match, and one other early exit from the Large Dance would mark an underwhelming begin to Scheyer’s tenure, particularly contemplating the standard of expertise Duke has assembled. 4 starters handed up the NBA Draft to return, giving the 2023-24 roster way more expertise than Scheyer’s first squad.
These returners might be complemented by the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class, a gifted group that helps place Duke to be the ACC’s preseason favourite and sure a top-10 staff within the AP preseason ballot. Highlighting the roster is flexible 7-footer Kyle Filipowski, who could possibly be within the combine for All-American honors if he can construct off an excellent freshman season.
Gamers have reported to campus for summer time exercises, and the countdown is on for the beginning of the 2023-24 season. As school basketball’s offseason participant motion cycle slows to a trickle, it is time to begin breaking down the rosters of the game’s prime packages. For the primary installment, we’re having a look on the Blue Devils and attempting to decipher what their lineup may appear to be when the season begins.
USATSI
Projected beginning lineup
1. Jeremy Roach
6-2 | 180 | Sr.
Roach averaged 13.6 factors and three.1 assists per recreation final season as the one returning rotation participant from Krzyzewski’s closing season. Now a senior, Roach might be relied upon once more to supply management and well timed offense. He performed a few of his finest basketball late final season, scoring 23 factors within the ACC Match title victory and dropping 23 once more within the Blue Devils’ first-round NCAA Match victory over Oral Roberts.
2. Tyrese Proctor
6-5 | 183 | So.
Proctor reclassified to affix the Blue Devils a yr forward of schedule and turned out to be one of many ACC’s prime freshmen. He began 34 of 36 video games and helped take a number of the facilitating load away from Roach. The Australian prospect had an amazing likelihood to be drafted however introduced shortly after the season’s conclusion that he deliberate to return for his sophomore season.
3. Mark Mitchell
6-9 | 232 | So.
Mitchell began 35 video games as a freshman and performed a utilitarian function for the Blue Devils as he tried simply 6.9 pictures per recreation whereas regularly holding down the small ahead function. He is among the staff’s most versatile defenders and may have a possibility to play extra on the 4 this season. He’s amongst a handful of multi-year Duke gamers with the possibility to ship their NBA Draft inventory skyrocketing this season.
4. TJ Energy
6-9 | 216 | Fr.
Energy may complement Filipowski effectively as a perimeter-oriented energy ahead. The Worcester, Massachusetts, native steadily climbed the recruiting rankings to shut the 2023 cycle as a five-star prospect, in response to 247Sports. Of the beginning lineup projections, this one is least sure. All 4 of the incoming freshmen had been equally ranked as prospects, and if Scheyer would like to play a smaller lineup that includes Mitchell on the 4, he may simply slide Jared McCain or Caleb Foster right into a beginning function.
5. Kyle Filipowski
7-0 | 248 | So.
Filipowski would virtually definitely have been drafted after main Duke in scoring and successful ACC Rookie of the 12 months as a freshman. As a substitute, the 7-footer is again to guide the Blue Devils once more and put some refining touches on his distinctive skillset. Filipowski performed energy ahead for a lot of final season whereas fellow towering freshman Dereck Vigorous II performed middle. With Vigorous gone, Scheyer could have the choice to play Filipowski on the 5 extra. No matter how he is deployed, search for the versatile Filipowski to make a run at First-Workforce All-ACC honors.
Bench
Jared McCain
6-3 | 197 | Fr.
McCain completed the 2023 recruiting cycle ranked No. 14 total, in response to 247Sports. That narrowly offers him the title of top-ranked prospect in Duke’s class. He can play on or off the ball and is considered a top quality shooter.
Sean Stewart
6-9 | 227 | Fr.
Stewart is an undersized massive man who closed the 2023 recruiting cycle ranked No. 21 within the class by 247Sports. A present school comparability could possibly be Miami bruiser Norchad Omier, who averaged 10 rebounds per recreation final season.
Caleb Foster
6-5 | 197 | Fr.
Foster is Duke’s largest guard, which ought to theoretically be a bonus for him when it comes to defensive versatility. He ranked because the No. 22 total prospect within the Class of 2023, can play both guard place and must be well-equipped to problem for a spot within the rotation.
Ryan Younger
6-10 | 238 | Sr.
Younger performed the function of early-season safety blanked in 2022-23 after transferring in following three seasons at Northwestern. His function diminished because the season progressed, and if all goes effectively he should not be wanted within the beginning lineup this season.
Depth
Jaylen Blakes | 6-2 | 204 | Jr.
Jaden Schutt | 6-5 | 190 | So.
Christian Reeves | 7-1 | 261 | So.
Blakes appeared in 32 video games final season and is strong defensively however noticed his function lower late within the yr. Schutt struggled to crack the rotation as a freshman however is considered a probably nice shooter. Reeves is a long-term venture who would possibly be capable of present some rim safety.