Duke men’s basketball has climbed to the No. 1 spot for the first time this season in this week’s AP Poll, following two secure victories and chaos in other conferences. The Blue Zone is here to break down the drastic shifts in the rankings and what they mean heading into conference tournaments.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the ACC announced its season awards Monday afternoon, and the Blue Devils are adding some more hardware to their trophy case.
Duke men’s basketball officially secured the No. 1 seed in this week’s ACC Tournament after the team’s defeat of North Carolina. The Blue Zone breaks down the Blue Devils’ potential path to a record-extending 23rd ACC Tournament title.
That’s what made Saturday’s 82-69 win so remarkable for the Blue Devils. It wasn’t the grand, season-saving spectacle the Tar Heels hoped for, needed and often threatened to deliver, but another comfortable Duke win in a sea of 27 others. A garnish on the dish rather than the dish itself.
While North Carolina kept it interesting, Duke escaped its rival on the road, closing out the regular season with a 82-69 win. Four of Duke’s starters finished with double digits, and the visitors demolished the Tar Heels on the glass 39-26. The win was head coach Jon Scheyer’s second in the Dean E. Smith Center, and his second time sweeping North Carolina in the regular season — he did both in his first year as the Blue Devils’ head coach.
No. 2 Duke looks to lock up the ACC regular-season title on the road against a hot North Carolina team. After 20 minutes of play in a packed Dean E. Smith Center, the Blue Devils hold a slim 43-42 lead.
For the second time this season, Duke will take on that team down the road in a rivalry bout. This time around, the Tar Heels come in with a winning streak and something to prove, while the Blue Devils are chasing an outright ACC regular season title. The Chronicle's beats break down the matchup with their predictions.
To better understand the 2024-25 Blue Devils, as well as the remainder of the NCAA Tournament field, let’s dive into the team sheet and all the metrics utilized by the tournament’s selection committee to build a field of 68.
With only one game left in Duke men’s basketball's regular season, the Blue Devils travel to Chapel Hill for a rematch with North Carolina. The Chronicle previews the season-finale with an overview and three keys for Duke.
The film takes a look at the Blue Devils' first two championships, with interview footage from Mike Krzyzewski and Duke's former star players.
Duke scored 17 more fast-break points compared to the Demon Deacons’ six, giving it an offensive edge that metastasized into an enormous lead. When the Blue Devils narrowly escaped Winston Salem, N.C., nearly a month ago, the scene looked very different: Duke tallied just two fast-break points to Wake Forest’s 12. This time around, the home squad played with a faster tempo to beat its opponents in transition, capitalizing on opportunities for quick buckets.
Duke played its penultimate regular-season game against Wake Forest Monday night. The ACC rematch was the home team’s last hurrah in Cameron — and a hurrah indeed. Duke snagged a 93-60 win from the Demon Deacons, this one much more decisive than before. The victory put another jewel in the crown Jon Scheyer wears, as the young head coach stayed undefeated at home for the second time in just three years and the 20th time in program history.
No. 2 Duke men’s basketball ends its home slate with a Monday night contest against Wake Forest. After 20 minutes of play, the Blue Devils lead the Demon Deacons 40-27:
Darren Harris' play represented common theme throughout, multiple Blue Devils — starters and role players alike — doing the little things well for Duke to win.
Coming off its dominant 100-65 win against Florida State, Duke men’s basketball welcomes Wake Forest back in Cameron Indoor Stadium for its last home game of the 2024-25 season. The Blue Zone previews the encounter.
There is an often-overlooked offensive firepower on the Blue Devils’ roster who could be the difference-maker in Duke’s tournament journey: guard Isaiah Evans.
Despite the junior guard’s absence due to a knee injury and the freshman suffering a poke to the eye midway through the first half, the Blue Devils crushed the Seminoles for their 26th win of the season.
No. 2 Duke men’s basketball returns home for a Saturday night clash with Florida State. After 20 minutes of play, the Blue Devils lead 47-30.
No. 2 Duke takes on Florida State back home at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Zone is here with an overview of the Seminoles, along with an X-Factor for each squad.
Dr. Javier Wallace, postdoctoral associate of African and African American studies, hosted a pre-screening of C.B.: Power to the Player, a film he produced celebrating the life and struggles of Dr. Claudius “C.B.” Claiborne, the first African American basketball player at Duke.
