30 simple reasons Duke basketball will win 30 games
By Matt Giles
The 30 reasons Duke basketball will win 30 games: Nos. 21-25
21. Considering that college athletes can now profit from their name, image, and likeness, one would assume the ever-popular Blue Devils will exhibit some additional motivation in maximizing the extent to which the program is in the national spotlight. Naturally, the simplest way to do so is to win as often as possible.
22. Duke should have no problem finding worthy captains this go-round after going captain-less last season. No doubt that Joey Baker and Wendell Moore seem up for the task.
23. Baker has struggled when it comes to consistency across his three years in Durham. However, if he shores up certain parts of his game a touch, he should be in line for significant playing time as a senior. And if that is indeed the case, his smooth 3-point stroke could become one of the ACC’s most dangerous next season.
24. Likewise, Moore has a chance to enjoy a breakthrough campaign as a junior. Hopefully, the athletic, lengthy, versatile small forward — who arrived at Duke as one of the highest-ranked four-star preps in 2019 — can figure out how to eliminate some of his most frequent mistakes from his freshman and sophomore years.
25. The anticipated rotation players consist of two fifth-year seniors, one regular senior, one junior, two sophomores, and four freshmen. Overall, that is a solid Duke basketball mix, equating to an average of 1.5 seasons of experience.