Duke Blue Devils basketball has long been a powerhouse in college basketball, and their 2024-25 season has continued that tradition. Led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, Duke has soared to the top of the ACC standings and into the top four of early NCAA Tournament projections. However, despite their impressive record and offensive firepower, CBS Sports Insider recently raised the question: Are the Blue Devils truly battle-tested enough for March Madness?
Basketball insider Jon Rothstein did not hold back during a College basketball segment on CBS. “Duke has played one team since December 8th that is a lock for the NCAA tournament: Clemson, and the Blue Devils lost.” he noted. “Duke is in a situation right now where its average margin of victory in the ACC is over 21 points per game.”
That’s a serious concern. Duke might be taking apart its ACC competition, but is that raising the level of the program? The ACC is not as loaded as it used to be, and without regular clashes against elite teams, the Blue Devils may be in for a rude awakening once the tournament gets serious.
Rothstein doubled down. “And if you look right now at the top four seeds in last weekend’s mock bracket reveal on CBS, we had the Blue Devils and three teams from the SEC: Auburn, Alabama, and Florida. The big difference between Duke and those other three teams is the level of competition that Florida, Alabama, and Auburn are facing on a regular basis.”
That’s a fair point. Auburn and Alabama are out there in the SEC week in and week out going against ranked teams. And Duke’s schedule has been — let’s say — slightly less grueling. So when the heat’s on in March, will Duke be ready?
However, we can’t overlook the talent either. Cooper Flagg has been insane, recording a ridiculous 42-point game against Notre Dame, breaking records that were previously thought safe. The newcomers are loaded, with Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel both being big-time prospects, and Tyrese Proctor bringing some veteran leadership to the group. Add in experienced transfers Mason Gillis from Purdue and Sion James from Tulane, and Duke’s got a legitimately deep roster.
Is Cooper Flagg’s dominance hiding Duke’s Achilles’ heel?
But here’s the thing — Duke’s most pressing concern may not be talent. It’s experience. Only two players, Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, received any real minutes in the Elite Eight run last season. The rest of the team? Freshmen and transfers who have not played under the bright lights of March Madness in a Duke jersey.
Credits : Imagn
This isn’t anything new for the Blue Devils. They lure top-tier recruits each season, but the inexperience has cost them in big moments before. The good news? This year’s group includes some older guys like Mason Gillis, who might help balance that out. Still, it’s a great big question mark — can this group perform under pressure when the stakes are through the roof?
Duke however has all the hardware needed for a deep championship run. They have talent, depth, and a coach, Jon Scheyer, who knows how to win. But Rothstein’s critique poses a hard question: has Duke been truly challenged? Or have they developed a false sense of security based on ACC dominance?
With Selection Sunday approaching, Duke has a final opportunity to impress. Can they rise against elite competition and prove they’re prepared for the madness of March? The time to waste is running out, now comes the real test.
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