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Duke opens the 2024-25 college basketball season looking to surpass its Elite Eight finish last year. Although the Blue Devils (27-9, 15-5 in ACC) won their first three games in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including an upset win over South Region No. 1 seed Houston, they couldn't get past ACC Tournament champions NC State in the Elite Eight.
With the heartbreaking finish on his mind, coach Jon Scheyer has assembled a stacked Duke roster made up of five returnees, four transfers and six highly-regarded freshmen determined to win the national championship. Here's an inside look into Duke's 2024-25 men's basketball campaign from its biggest games to the key players to watch out for this season.
Duke's biggest games of the 2024-25 season
Duke will have a loaded non-conference schedule for the 2024-25 season, featuring five teams that made the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Business picks up on Nov. 12 as the Blue Devils face the new-look Kentucky Wildcats in the Champions Classic. The game will serve as an early challenge for both teams who are tabbed as contenders to win the 2025 national championship.
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Jon Scheyer and his men will visit Sweet 16 qualifier Arizona at the McKale Center in Tucson on Nov. 22 before going to the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada for a Vegas Showdown cash with Kansas on Nov. 26.
They'll be back home on Dec. 4 for a meeting with Auburn in the ACC-SEC Challenge. Duke will have a non-conference clash with Illinois on Feb. 22, 2025 as part of the SentinelOne Classic at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Meanwhile, Duke will play 20 games against ACC groupmates and will feature home-and-away games against North Carolina, Wake Forest and Miami. It will also host California, Florida State, NC State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Stanford and Virginia Tech.
The Blue Devils will face Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, SMU, Syracuse and Virginia in away matchups to cap off the regular season.
Top Duke players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season
#1. Cooper Flagg
Five-star propsect Cooper Flagg approaches the 2024-25 college basketball season with a lot of hype around him. Flagg had an incredible season, winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year and McDonald's All-American in his senior year. He averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 blocks per game.
The Montverde Academy standout is the top player in the 247Sports and ESPN rankings. The six-foot-nine guard/forward led the Eagles to a 33-0 record, winning the national championship in the process. He joined RJ Barrett as the Duke signee with a 1.0000 rating from 247Sports.
#2. Tyrese Proctor
Tyrese Proctor is coming off a great 2023-24 season with Duke, where he averaged 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-6 guard shot 42.3% from the field, an improvement from his 38.1% clip the previous season.
Proctor is expected to be the lead playmaker for Jon Scheyer's squad, dishing out good passes to their rookie standouts and score crucial points when needed.
#3. Khaman Maluach
Khaman Maluach was the top center and third-best prep prospect as per 247 Sports. The 7-foot-2 South Sudanese took part in the Nike Hoop Summit and was part of the World team.
Maluach, who helped South Sudan qualify for the Paris Olympics, possesses a 7-foot-5 wingspan and a 9-foot-8 standing reach. He is expected to form a partnership with Cooper Flagg in helping Duke won its first national title since 2015.
Predictions for Duke's 2024-25 season
Duke will have a loaded lineup for the 2024-25 men's basketball season with the national title on their sights. The Blue Devils haven't won a national championship since 2015 and the current team composition looks set for the final.
Coach Jon Scheyer will have his hands full this season to guide this team to the promised land. They are expected to win all games in the regular season and the ACC Tournament. The expectation is that they'll stay hot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and win all their games for a perfect season.
Will Duke win the 2025 national title with its highly-ranked recruits? Let us know your views in the comments section.
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