Duke basketball now has what it takes to return to the 30-win stratosphere.
The Duke basketball program has won 30 or more games in a season 15 times. Each instance was under the direction of Mike Krzyzewski, meaning they’ve all come within the past 41 years.
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Five of those seasons concluded with the Duke Blue Devils standing atop the stage in April as pieces of the nets dangled from their newly acquired championship threads. Eight of the 15 reached a Final Four.
But Duke has managed only one 30-win campaign since its last national crown in 2015.
In fairness, though, if not for the pandemic eliminating the 2019-20 postseason just as the Blue Devils were showing signs of a March blossom, that 25-6 crew might’ve joined the previous year’s Zion & Friends in the 30-victory club. Also, those who subscribe to the notion that “Wendell Carter had his feet set” would unofficially credit the 29-8 bunch in 2017-18 with a 30th W.
Oh well. No worries, for another member looks to pop up on the list at some point in the spring. So let’s get right to this, giving 30 reasons — five at a time — that fans should expect 30 wins or more from the 2021-22 Blue Devils.
The 30 reasons Duke basketball will win 30 games: Nos. 1-5
1. Seeing that this is the 42nd and final hurrah for the college game’s all-time wins leader, Mike Krzyzewski’s last group of Blue Devils is sure to play with an extra dose of passion throughout the regular season and beyond.
2. On that same note, Krzyzewski himself is likely to enjoy some added bounce to his 74-year-old step, knowing that this will be his final chance to orchestrate Duke basketball greatness from the bench once again.
3. Meanwhile, Coach K’s successor-in-waiting, Jon Scheyer, ought to enjoy a heightened role when it comes to in-game strategizing and barking at the refs. A heavier peppering of the 33-year-old’s Millenial mind and youthful charm is sure to bode well for a somewhat young batch of Blue Devils.
4. Barring any potential issues from the recent pandemic uptick, the 2021-22 Duke squad could play in as many as 40 games between the regular season and postseason. Well, it could be as many as 42 if the team fails to earn any byes in the ACC Tournament, yet such a lowly conference record might alone make 30 wins an impossibility.
5. The Blue Devils should be playing with a chip on their shoulders after the program finished with a relatively embarrassing 13-11 record last season — the first time Duke has gone without an invite to the Big Dance since 1995.
The 30 reasons Duke basketball will win 30 games: Nos. 6-10
6. Duke basketball freshman Paolo Banchero has the makings of an All-American. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward finished No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite. Keep in mind, the last time the Blue Devils enjoyed the services of at least one top 10 recruit from the final prep rankings, they went 32-6 (2018-19).
7. Now, let’s talk about freshman AJ Griffin. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound frequent slasher arrives at No. 17 among his 2021 peers. However, he was on the verge of cracking the top five in the class before the pandemic severely limited his senior high school season in New York.
8. With freshman shooting guard Trevor Keels in the mix, Duke welcomes a trio of five-star prospects, each of whom earned McDonald’s All-American status. And the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Keels gives the Blue Devils an extra pure sharpshooter and trustworthy weapon in the backcourt.
9. Don’t forget about the fourth rookie on the roster, Jaylen Blakes. Not only does the 6-foot-1, 210-pound four-star point guard display enough athleticism to aid in a fast-paced attack, but he should also have the necessary energy and quick hands to potentially be a tone-setter on the defensive end.
10. Two more newcomers are on tap as well in grad transfers Theo John and Bates Jones. Both big men have the size and know-how to help out down low if Duke faces significant injuries or regular foul trouble during the quest to reestablish its prominence by winning at least 30 outings.
The 30 reasons Duke basketball will win 30 games: Nos. 11-15
11. Only four scholarship players return from last season’s squad. Considering the chemistry issues, confidence depletion, and subsequent subpar record, the low total of returning guys is a good thing.
12. All four have never given any reason to believe they are selfish. No, those four exhibited admirable sticktoitiveness.
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13. The same lack of selfishness should also apply to all the newcomers; the early glimpses of the fellas — via Duke Blue Planet videos and whatnot — sure support that assumption. Therefore, one should anticipate last season’s frequently visible teammate-blaming gestures (see: Jalen Johnson) to be a thing of the past.
14. Sticking with the no-more-Johnson theme, remember that the 2020-21 squad came within two overtime losses of going 7-1 following his sudden mid-February departure from Durham. Also, remember that one of last season’s early Duke Blue Planet videos showed Johnson requiring special meals different from all his teammates (perhaps that should have been a sign).
15. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the Duke basketball program is riding a two-game win streak. Yes, despite season-long frustration, the Blue Devils finished on a relatively positive note with their pair of encouraging victories in the ACC Tournament (before a positive COVID-19 test within the program erased any hope of a magical run).
The 30 reasons Duke basketball will win 30 games: Nos. 16-20
16. Although the Blue Devils didn’t exactly capitalize on it, the competition level in the ACC was noticeably down last year. And it may not improve by much in the upcoming season, providing Duke with another opening to possibly cruise in a 20-game conference slate.
17. When it comes to preseason rankings, the Blue Devils look to begin somewhere just inside the top 15 or maybe even the top 10, indicating considerable belief amongst experts that the program will bounce right back from the 2020-21 underachievement.
18. Because Duke’s anticipated ranking is respectful yet not overly generous, the fellas in Durham shouldn’t get too full of themselves early. Still, they should at least carry the early swagger from being a ranked team.
19. The Cameron Crazies expect to be back in the stands after the pandemic erased that renowned Duke basketball advantage last season. Sure, they’ll likely be in masks the entire season, but they are also likely to get creative in using their masks as props to aid in their devilish antics.
20. Mike Krzyzewski has an excellent primary staff by his side next season. All four assistants are former Blue Devils. Three are past national champs in Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith, and Amile Jefferson. One is in his 40s: Chris Carrawell. Two are in their 30s: Scheyer and Smith. And Jefferson, who adds a much-needed big man to the equation, is 28 years old.
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.
The 30 reasons Duke basketball will win 30 games: Nos. 26-30
26. With a learning year under his belt, Jeremy Roach now has the tools to become a reliable starting point guard for the Blue Devils as a sophomore next season. Encouragingly, he became a bonafide 3-point threat toward the end of last season, going 12-for-26 beyond the arc (46.2 percent) across the final seven games.
27. Mark Williams also ended his Duke basketball freshman campaign on a positive note. If the 7-footer begins his sophomore year putting up box scores like the one from an ACC Tournament win over Louisville — 23 points, 19 rebounds — he’ll enter the discussion as one of the nation’s best big men. It should make his life easier to have Paolo Banchero by his side in the paint regularly.
28. Duke basketball’s non-conference schedule includes three powers in Kentucky, Gonzaga, and Ohio State. Should the Blue Devils win two or more of those games, chances are they’ll be riding a confidence high entering ACC play. But even if they lose all three, there will be ample opportunities to rack up early wins with eight home games against teams outside the major-conference realm.
29. Fortunately, unlike last year when the players didn’t arrive on campus until August, Duke has loads of preparation time this time around after welcoming the guys to town months ago. Considering the number of newbies in Durham, this extra time is incredibly invaluable.
30. Finally, let’s assume that the basketball gods will ensure Mike Krzyzewski goes out on top.