Duke basketball 2015-16 season preview

Overview: A year after cutting down the nets in Indianapolis, the Blue Devils and head coach Mike Krzyzewski start anew in 2015-16, acclimating another top-ranked recruiting class to Durham to join the core of role players that remain from last year's title-winning squad. Gone are the freshmen phenoms Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones, who combined to score 60 of Duke's 68 points in the national title game against Wisconsin, as is the consummate role model and team captain in Quinn Cook. Highly touted recruits Brandon Ingram, Derryck Thornton, Luke Kennard and Chase Jeter must step into the big shoes left by last year's rookies, though Krzyzewski has cautioned against any sort of comparisons between the two groups.

Although several newcomers should make an immediate impact in the box score, Duke's season will be defined by how well the role players from last year's squad adjust to their newfound responsibilities. Sophomore Grayson Allen exploded onto the national stage against the Badgers and must prove himself consistent night in and night out against ACC defenses that will begin to key on him. Junior Matt Jones and senior Amile Jefferson are proven leaders do everything well on the floor, but will be looked to for more offensive production. With the loss of Okafor's low-post scoring—a near-guaranteed double-figure output every game—Duke will need more contributions from graduate student Marshall Plumlee. The Warsaw, Ind., native's older brothers, Miles and Mason, made big leaps heading into their final season in Durham—a similar jump by Plumlee could help ameliorate the departure of Okafor.

One thing that needs to go right: Allen emerges as a nightly force and Thornton follows in Tyus Jones' footsteps as a clutch freshman floor general as the Blue Devils make a run at hanging a sixth banner in the rafters of Cameron Indoor Stadium.

One thing that could go wrong: The freshmen take too long to adjust to the college game, and Duke struggles early in ACC play, putting itself out of contention for the regular season conference crown.