Duke’s Fresh Start: New Coach, New Players, Same Tournament Ambitions

Cooper Flagg, the top-ranked recruit in the country, announced that he will be joining Duke’s basketball team next season. The Blue Devils are facing a significant turnover with only three players from last year’s Elite Eight team expected to return for the upcoming season. However, Duke fans can take comfort in their incoming freshman class, which also includes several highly ranked recruits such as Kon Kneuppel and Isaiah Evans.

Sean Stewart, a five-star recruit from last year’s top-ranked Rivals freshman class, has decided to enter the transfer portal. He is not alone in his decision as seven players from Duke’s roster have already done so. Other high-profile recruits like TJ Power and Jeremy Roach have also left the program. Despite this mass exodus, Duke has been actively recruiting new players such as Maliq Brown, Brandon Angel, and Mason Gillis for the upcoming season.

Head coach Jon Scheyer will be coaching his first season without any players from Mike Krzyzewski’s era. This makes it a crucial year for him to prove himself and lead Duke to success on the court. Although he has yet to reach the Final Four in his tenure, he has been bringing in strong recruiting classes that include several highly ranked freshmen like Flagg and other highly ranked transfers like Jalen Green and Chet Holmgren who are projected to be lottery picks.

Duke fans are eagerly anticipating a deeper tournament run next season with their talented roster of both experienced players and newcomers alike. With Scheyer at the helm and an exciting mix of talent on the roster, anything is possible for this up-and-coming program