Duke Opens 2024-25 As a Top Final Four Favorite

Duke Opens 2024-25 As a Top Final Four Favorite

At the onset, expectations are running high for the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC. Now, with another College basketball betting season right around the corner. Head coach Jon Scheyer couldn’t have things any other way. Following a second-place finish in the ACC and the return of two backcourt pieces in Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor. Last year, things finished in anticlimactic fashion for the Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament. To illuminate, they fell short of their goal of a National Championship in the Elite Eight to the NC State Wolfpack.

2024-25 Duke Blue Devils Basketball Preview

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2024-25 Duke Blue Devils Basketball Outlook

Specifically, NC State was a foe whom they’ll look to get familiar with alongside their other rival along Tobacco Road.

At the beginning, many pundits have picked the Blue Devils to win the ACC and with good reason. They’ve got the potential to be a well-rounded group when it’s all said and done. And they’ve looked good so far. Duke returned to Cameron Indoor on Nov. 29 to host Seattle as part of the Vegas Showdown before hosting Auburn in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 4.

Next, they’ll travel to Louisville on Dec. 8 to open up conference play. And then host Incarnate Word (Dec. 10) and George Mason (Dec. 17) to close out the non-conference schedule. The non-conference offshore betting slate has been fine for Coach Scheyer and company. They went 10-2 in non-conference action in 2023-24, losing to No. 12 Arizona and on the road to Arkansas in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Of course, they’ll face similar challenges this season. But there’s a very good chance that Duke could be a Top 10 team headed into January if all goes well.

All eyes will be on Cooper Flagg for the Blue Devils as a top pick in the NBA Draft. To show, he’s a shifty forward at 6-foot-9 who gives shades of Kyle Singler in the early going. Although he’s a lot more polished handling the ball and athletically gifted defensively. He’s being brought along slowly in the NCAABB betting rotation after scoring a cool nine points in their exhibition victory over the Sun Devils.

Namely, Tyrese Proctor is the first returning name to know with the Blue Devils. He fared well last year in the point guard role. In sum, he produced 10.5 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game on 35.2 percent shooting from deep.

The Blue Devils return Proctor and Foster. At the same time, Cooper Flagg is one of many new freshmen faces to get to know them. 7-foot-2 big man Khaman Maluach and versatile wing Kon Knueppel are a few other freshmen names to keep an eye on.

And then there are the three new additions out of the transfer portal in Mason Gillis (Purdue), Maliq Brown (Syracuse), and Sion James (Tulane). They look prepared to play key roles off the bench as they look to strengthen things with what they can do.

Flagg, Knuppel, and Maluach are a trio of freshmen to keep an eye on. Accordingly, Proctor and Foster look ready to lead the way with their experience, as this group has a chance to be very good defensively. Not only should they be a very good defensive team, but depth should also be fine, too.