No. 5 Virginia | No. 7 Iowa State | Full List
No. 6: DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Last Season: 35-4, 15-3 ACC
The Blue Devils cut down the nets in April, giving coach Mike Krzyzewski his fifth national title. And then ... virtually every major contributor left campus.
To no surprise, freshmen Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow declared for the NBA draft. And Tyus Jones, who many figured would at least be around a couple of years, played so steady and had so many star moments during the season that he, too, played his way into the draft.Quinn Cook, the lone senior starter, graduated.
No matter. Krzyzewski assembled the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation to mold with returnees such as guard Grayson Allen, who is primed for a breakout season.
The season outlook changed when Duke, sorely in need of a true point guard, received one when Derryck Thornton reclassified. Thornton joined a freshman class that included small forward Brandon Ingram, who was ranked No. 3 overall in the ESPN 100.
As talented as they are, these freshmen aren't like those freshmen last year. And they should not be compared as such. That's why the Blue Devils will be pursuing another NCAA title, not defending one.-- C.L. Brown
Best Case: Mike Krzyzewski doesn't like "defending" a national championship, but it is part of the vernacular. He does, however, love the idea of repeating. However, there will be no classic "repeat" for Duke. While Duke can go "back-to-back," it's hard to repeat with a totally different group. This year's Blue Devils are talented but vastly different. Coach K may be swapping a No. 1 recruiting class for another No. 1 recruiting class, but Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones are different players from this year's crop of Brandon Ingram, Chase Jeter and Derryck Thornton, all top-20 recruits. Duke will be more perimeter-oriented and versatile defensively, but the Blue Devils will not have the dominant post presence. Can Duke win it again? Absolutely.
Worst Case: Duke does not get the stellar point guard play Jones provided, and the Blue Devils have to settle for a 29-win season. If these freshmen get tired, mentally and physically, earlier exits are possible, even for Duke.
"Coach K has a lot of new pieces. And while they have talent, I don't think they can replicate what they lost. They are good players, they work hard, but they will have pressure on them from the start, and they need to get off to a good start. They are a young team without a superstar. Brandon Ingram is talented, but he's not a superstar. They have a lot of question marks heading into the year."
No. 5 Virginia | No. 7 Iowa State | Full List
