Facebook/Harry Giles III
The NCAA tournament is just around the corner and there are already predictions for the next national champion.
Unfortunately for Duke fans, they are not the favorites this season despite having a projected NBA lottery pick in freshman Brandon Ingram.
Their recent loss to Notre Dame reflected some of their weaknesses, as Dana O' Neil of ESPN recalled.
"Losing Ingram hurt the Blue Devils in regulation, but in overtime they were clearly out of gas. Playing their second game in as many days -- and after fending off an NC State rally on Wednesday night -- Duke simply didn't have anything left in the tank in OT."
The injury to Amile Jefferson hurt their already thin frontline. Coach Mike Krzyzewski does not prefer to stockpile his roster and his recent string of recruiting one-and-done talents has led to the Blue Devils running short on the rotation.
His recruiting class this year did not have any heavy frontliners like Jahlil Okafor last season, and Ingram may be leaving for the NBA as he is projected as high as no.2.
Because of this weakness and the depth of the other favored teams, the Blue Devils are at odds on defending their title. College Basketball Insider Jeff Goodman lays down the hard reality.
"Duke has enough talent to get past the first weekend, as long as Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram don't have off nights. Marshall Plumlee can't get into foul trouble, either. But the Blue Devils aren't a legitimate threat to repeat as national champions."
Coach K has fielded stronger teams in the tournament before and they had early exits. His current team is talented but will be disadvantaged.
However, Goodman does mention that the celebration of Duke haters will be short-lived. Coach K has already assembled the best recruiting class for next season and the roster will not be described as "thin" anymore.
"The Blue Devils will be the favorites to win it all. Yes, over Kentucky," Goodman said. "Duke will have more talent than anyone else, in addition to the balance, depth and a freshman class that may be superior to the one last year that featured Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones."
They have the two of the top three recruits in Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles, expected to occupy the forward spots. A short description for each:
"Tatum can do just about everything now that he has added consistency to his jump shot. He's not a high-level athlete, but he has a high IQ, can score in a variety of ways and can also make teammates better with his court vision and passing ability."
"Giles can be the most dominant big man in the country with his combination of athleticism, power and skill. He may take time to shake off the rust following another layoff, but when he gets back to 100 percent, he's a problem few are capable of dealing with."
Even if Ingram leaves and possibly Grayson Allen along with Marshall Plumlee graduating, there would be returnees in Chase Jeter and Jefferson to join the two young studs.
Duke fans may have to accept that there are better teams this year, but the sorrow will be temporary.
