Duke basketball unveils its 10 best plays from 2020

The No. 1 Duke basketball play from the 2020 calendar year is a no-brainer.

All in all, 2020 was quite a drag for pretty much the entire world. And it included a relatively discouraging 16-7 record for the Duke basketball program, combining last season’s post-New Year’s Day 13-5 mark and the current squad’s 3-2 clip to date.

However, despite no postseason play for the Blue Devils last March and a handful of canceled games this season, the year did offer a somewhat steady supply of sweet Duke memories…

Lots of remarkable acrobatics and emphatic flushes from Cassius Stanley. One pure posterization in December from DJ Steward. A Senior Night explosion from Justin Robinson. Unforgettable Dean Dome magic from Tre Jones. The finishing touch to an epic Chapel Hill miracle from Wendell Moore.

ALSO READ: Duke’s five most heartwarming Dean Dome wins of all time

On Thursday, the social media team in Durham revealed via YouTube the 10 greatest plays in 2020 from the Blue Devils (see below). Though some fans surely would have liked to have seen highlights from the likes of Vernon Carey Jr., Matthew Hurt, and others, it’s tough to argue with the performances that Duke selected.

Of course, no sane person could find a better No. 1 and No. 2, both coming from the come-from-behind 98-96 overtime victory over North Carolina on March 8.

Have a look at all 10:

A brief look ahead at Duke basketball in 2021

So what names might one expect to appear at this time next year in the video showing the 10 best Duke plays from 2021? Well, assuming the current season continues without a considerable number of cancellations, there’s a reasonable chance some soon-to-come plays from Matthew Hurt, DJ Steward, and others will make the cut.

As for the 2021 portion of the 2021-22 campaign, two prep seniors come to mind as potential human highlight reels. Five-star forwards Paolo Banchero and AJ Griffin, who are both probable one-and-done collegians, each rank inside the top 10 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite and signed letters of intent in November to play for the Blue Devils.

Also, Dukies must be crossing their fingers that they’ll get to witness sensational shooting shows from five-star 2021 targets Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Trevor Keels. The 247Sports Crystal Ball for both snipers still points to their future being with the Blue Devils.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball news and views.