Duke Basketball Have Handled Themselves Like Champions

Seeing as how they were never supposed to get this far, you have to look back at their most recent season and acknowledge that the Duke Blue Devils earned respect, silenced some critics and even won over a few new fans. This team went for the long haul without one of the guys who was supposed to lead them, believed in themselves when doubt crept in from every angle and took the court every night with what seemed like four guys sometimes.

Amile Jefferson was supposed to step in and be one of the leaders on this year’s version of the Blue Devils, and a broken foot took care of that. Marshall Plumlee stepped right in and did what we expected of Jefferson. Much was expected of Grayson Allen. He seemingly came out of nowhere the prior year and found himself in the National Championship game he’d be a hero in. Questions surfaced as to whether he’d crack under the pressure. He didn’t. He actually elevated his level of play when needed. If you need proof of said effort, just find a clip of his last-second shot to sink the Virginia Cavaliers.

Then there was a Matt Jones injury in Chapel Hill against the rival North Carolina Tar Heels. Duke would go on to play the remainder of the first half and the entire second half with five guys holding off a Tar Heels onslaught that seemed to come in waves. The result? There was another victory over their foes.

Ultimately, it would be that type of will that would push them through the remainder of the season. Against the Oregon Ducks, time and energy both ran out, but no one expected this team to win it all anyway. Still, they have to be appreciated for being the embodiment of Duke Basketball. There are a few stars. There are a few role players who play above their potential at times, and there’s a head coach who ranks among the best to ever do it. With next year’s recruiting class, Duke may have a chance at winning the last game of the season.