Ranking all 40 Duke basketball teams under Coach K

THE TOP CONTRIBUTORS

1. Junior guard Johnny Dawkins: 18.8 points, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals
2. Junior forward Mark Alarie: 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds; 58.5 field goal percentage
3. Sophomore guard Tommy Amaker: 8.2 points, 5.9 assists, 1.8 steals
4. Junior guard David Henderson: 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists
5. Junior center Jay Bilas: 10.1 points, 6.0 rebounds; 30 starts
6. Senior forward Danny Meagher: 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 26.9 minutes
7. Freshman guard Kevin Strickland: 4.0 points, 1.3 rebounds

THE SEASON SYNOPSIS

The so-called “Class that Saved Coach K” was now in its third campaign, hoping to reach a Final Four for the first time under Mike Krzyzewski. Not so fast. Losses in the second rounds of the ACC and NCAA tourneys told the juniors they needed to wait for their senior year to achieve such goals.

As the 1984-85 squad absorbed the necessary experience, Coach K and his staff landed a future program centerpiece on the recruiting trail in Danny Ferry, who would add one more stellar piece for the 1985-86 team; in other words, we won’t be getting to that team for quite some time on this ranking.

THE REPORT CARD

• 23 out of a possible 40 points for WIN TOTAL
• 0.5 out of a possible 5 points for TOP 25 WINS (two)
• 1.25 out of a possible 5 points for WINS BY 25+ POINTS (five)
• 0 out of a possible 20 points for POSTSEASON NETS
• 2 out of a possible 10 points for CONSENSUS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS (Dawkins)
• 1 out of a possible 5 points for ALL-ACC FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS (Dawkins)
• 1.5 out of a possible 5 points for MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICANS (Dawkins, Amaker, Nessley)
• 4.25 out of a possible 10 points for HYPOTHETICAL HEAD-TO-HEAD STANDING (No. 24)
• 2 bonus points for WINS AGAINST UNC (one)
• TOTAL GRADE: 35.50