Ahead of the start of the Blue Devils' season Monday, our beats are here with season predictions, players to watch and the biggest questions for this team:
What do you think Duke’s record will be?
Tyler Walley (23-7, 14-4, third in the ACC): The Blue Devils enter the 2024-25 season with huge expectations following a strong Sweet 16 campaign from last year. This year’s squad should largely be a continuation of that success, although the lack of a true center on head coach Kara Lawson’s roster concerns me. Regardless, an experienced starting five, a strong rotation and the addition of freshman Toby Fournier in the frontcourt should position Duke as one of the ACC’s best teams this year. Lawson’s signature defense should keep these Blue Devils alive in nearly every game, although early-season contests against ranked squads like Maryland, Kansas State and especially South Carolina will prove difficult. Once conference play ramps up, away contests against Notre Dame and N.C. State will be a thorn in Duke’s side, but I still think this team can win around 14 ACC games, putting it at least in the top-three in the conference — if not higher.
Ryan Kazerani: (24-6, 13-5, fourth in ACC): In the 2023-24 season, Duke finished 22-12 with an ACC record of 11-7, securing it the seventh spot in the ACC. That season saw flashes of good play, but the Blue Devils lacked consistency and were unable to win more than three games in a row at any point. With added depth to Duke’s experienced roster, through key freshmen and transfers, this could very well change. For Blue Devil fans, this also hopefully means less offensive struggles than last season. Ranking 262nd in turnovers per game and struggling with its shooting from the field, Duke was able to stay successful because of Lawson’s continuously robust defense. The offense should show improvements from work put in over the offseason, however teams like Louisville, Notre Dame and N.C. State will still prove to be challenging for the Blue Devils. That said, Duke should be able to comfortably finish in the top four in the conference with a good shot of even finishing higher.
Who will be the team MVP?
Reigan Richardson: After playing a key role in last season’s successes and Round of 64 and 32 victories, Reigan Richardson has to be my pick to be the team’s MVP. This past season, the Charlotte native started all 34 games for the Blue Devils, averaging a team-high 12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game. In the Round of 32, arguably the biggest game of the season to that point, Richardson scored 28 points and secured seven rebounds against No. 2-seed Ohio State to help the team surmount the 16-point halftime deficit. This win propelled Duke to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2018. Her strong season-long performances led her to being selected to All-ACC second team, an extremely impressive accolade. Now, entering the 2024-25 season, 5-foot-11 guard is the lone Blue Devil named to the preseason All-ACC team, setting expectations rightfully high. As Richardson’s positive trajectory continues through her final year at Duke, she will take the star spot on the Blue Devils’ impressive roster. - Kazerani
Delaney Thomas: The consensus is likely Richardson, but I’ll pick Delaney Thomas. Richardson was Duke’s leading scorer last season, but three of her five highest scoring games came against Richmond and Virginia, teams significantly worse than Duke. She starred in the Blue Devils’ second-round matchup against the Buckeyes in the NCAA tournament, but in four of Duke’s other biggest games, regular season matchups against top teams Stanford and South Carolina and rivals North Carolina and N.C. State, she shot a combined 13-for-57. On the other hand, Thomas shined in the biggest moments. Her season high in points came in Duke’s home victory over the hated Tar Heels, scoring 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in a 68-60 win. Her second- and third-highest marks came against Stanford and South Carolina — both teams featured top-three WNBA draft picks in the paint. In those two games, she scored 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting. Thomas’ productivity at the highest level and Duke’s thin frontcourt is a perfect formula for a breakout season for the sophomore, and potentially an MVP-level season for the Blue Devils. -Myles Powicki
Who is Duke’s most underrated player?
Vanessa de Jesus: After a knee injury sidelined Vanessa de Jesus last season, she will return to Cameron Indoor Stadium as one of Duke’s most underrated assets. A creative guard with a knack for crafting shots under pressure, de Jesus shot an impressive 89.2% from the free-throw line in her last healthy season. Her deep understanding of Lawson’s system — as the only player remaining from Lawson’s original roster — positions her as a stabilizing leader for this high-energy Duke team. De Jesus’ reliability and basketball IQ will be essential in elevating the Blue Devils’ offensive efficiency against a challenging regular-season schedule. Her standout performance against Clemson in the 2022-23 season, where she scored 11 points in just 18 minutes, proved pivotal in securing Duke’s victory. In her comeback, look for de Jesus to be an underrated difference-maker who could guide the Blue Devils to critical wins. - Lucy Glynn
Oluchi Okananwa: Duke’s most valuable bench player is sophomore guard Oluchi Okananwa; last year, she came off the bench for all 34 games. Okananwa is quick and deliberate on the court; she gets down to business and doesn’t let pressure phase her. Last year, the Boston native scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in her Duke debut — the first freshman to score double-double in her first collegiate game since 2014. The Blue Devils often waver in their offensive strength, and Okananwa — who led the team in rebounding last year — is essential for a team that needs all the possession it can get. -Lilah Gorfain
What will Duke’s best win be?
N.C. State: Duke could have a crucial conference win against the N.C. State Wolfpack in their home territory. The Wolfpack had an extremely successful 2023-24 campaign, finishing with a record of 31-7 including a home record of 17-1. They were second in the conference and made it all the way to the Final Four. Star player and leading scorer Aziaha James, who averaged 16.8 points in the previous season, returns for a big senior year. However, N.C. State lost its starting center, who averaged 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Its frontcourt will have a completely new look, as it also lost starting forward Mimi Collins. The Wolfpack was prepared for their departures, however, with an elite recruiting class. Their class of four newcomers consisted of two guards, one forward and one center. Zamareya Jones, a five-star recruit, led the class. This matchup between N.C. State and Duke will certainly be a defensive battle. The key for the Blue Devils to take down their conference rivals is to limit the backcourt’s offensive production and secure rebounds. The Wolfpack led the ACC in rebounds last year which led to more scoring opportunities. - Cayden Tu
Notre Dame: Duke’s best win this season could come from a home-court victory against the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame has emerged this season as a top collegiate basketball program. The return of Hannah Hidalgo, last season’s ACC Rookie of the Year, and Olivia Miles presents a backcourt threat for the Blue Devils. However, with respective 3-point shooting percentages of 34% and 23%, they are expected to spend a lot of time in the key. Lawson’s defensive legacy will likely force Notre Dame into a slower, half-court offense where it is less effective. Moreover, the rebounding abilities of sophomore Jadyn Donovan and Fournier position the Blue Devils to limit second-chance points and gain extra possessions. To seal the win, Duke will need to play with patience and composure, and a strong roster of returning players gives the Blue Devils one of their most experienced teams in recent years, hungry for victory. Duke may have a good chance of securing a lucky win against the Irish. - Glynn
What will Duke’s go-to lineup be?
Mair, Richardson, Jackson, Donovan, Thomas: Despite the new addition of Fournier, which should undoubtedly raise this team’s offensive ceiling, consistency is key. This lineup is almost identical to the one Lawson ran last season, the exception being Thomas replacing Kennedy Brown at the five. Thomas didn’t start a single game last year, but her size and ability to shine in big moments will be invaluable for this experienced Blue Devil team, especially with would-be center Arianna Roberson out for the entire season. Mair, Richardson and Jackson will start once again following very solid 2023-24 campaigns. Where Fournier fits within this lineup is an open question, and I believe it’s at least a possibility she’ll dethrone sophomore Jadyn Donovan at the four. However, I think Lawson will generally stick with Donovan as a defensive anchor, thus returning most of Duke’s 2023-24 lineup. - Walley
Mair, Richardson, Okananwa, Donovan, Fournier: For certain games where a different type of playstyle is necessary, the Blue Devils could turn to a small-ball lineup that focuses more on offensive production. Taina Mair is essential at the point-guard spot to distribute on offense and create a strong defensive backcourt. In the 2023-2024 season, Mair led the team in both assists and steals, averaging 3.6 and 1.5, respectively. Richardson returns for a key offensive position at the shooting guard position. Okananwa, who also led the team in rebounds last year, brings an interesting frontcourt aspect to the team, making it extremely versatile in scoring and rebounding. Although this lineup might seem alternate, Fournier at the center position could create mismatches offensively. This lineup heavily favors a mix of offensive production and rebounding. Whereas the Blue Devils struggled slightly with half-court offense last season, this lineup stretches the floor and allows for big-play opportunities like threes. - Gorfain
Mair, Richardson, Jackson, Donovan, Thomas: With last year’s Blue Devils defined as a young team, Lawson will want to keep her lineup mostly unchanged with the seasoned players she knows can bring it. With Brown graduated and Roberson out for the season, there is an opening at the five. Delaney Thomas will most likely be the replacement — she had a solid start to her Duke career last season, particularly in the team’s exhilarating overtime win against North Carolina. At this point, I believe that it’s unlikely any of the freshmen will replace these players on the lineup. To make that happen, they will have to truly prove themselves under Lawson’s watch. - Tu
Richardson, Jackson, ?, ?, ?:
The Blue Devils have too many starting-quality players. It’s the best possible problem to have, as any five of Mair, Richardson, Jackson, Okananwa, Donovan, Thomas and Fournier could see themselves in a closing lineup come season’s end. I’m fairly confident Richardson and Jackson will be there, as they won’t ever be defensively played off the floor and possess the scoring chops to earn crunch-time minutes even on their worst nights. I think the other three spots on the floor will be very matchup-dependent. If Duke needs size, Thomas and or Fournier will be out there, depending on how Fournier adjusts to college basketball. If the Blue Devils need another ball handler, Mair will certainly be on the floor. And if defensive intensity is the goal, Okananwa and or Donovan will see late minutes. All seven of the aforementioned players will have to earn their crunch-time minutes, and even then, Lawson will have flexibility with her closing lineups this season. - Powicki
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