Duke Prepares for ACC Season as Cooper Flagg Joins Roster

In the United States, No. 7 Duke basketball program is entering its third season under head coach Jon Scheyer as the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the second consecutive year. Following a successful season that saw them reach the NCAA Elite Eight, the Blue Devils have made significant roster changes, bringing in 10 new players to their team. This overhaul comes after the departure of their top four scorers, which includes freshman Jared McCain’s move to the NBA and transfers by guard Jeremy Roach and wing Mark Mitchell. Among the promising new recruits are top talents like Cooper Flagg and key transfer players such as graduate forward Mason Gillis, who was part of Purdue's NCAA title game run. The roster also welcomes Tulane graduate Sion James and Syracuse junior Maliq Brown, both expected to make notable contributions this season. Despite losing top players, several returning players like Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster are anticipated to step up, although Foster missed considerable time last season due to injury. The Blue Devils will kick off the season on November 4 against Maine, marking the beginning of a demanding schedule including games against ranked opponents like No. 23 Kentucky and No. 1 Kansas. This is the 17th straight season that Duke opens ranked in the top 10, a testament to the program’s consistent success and elite recruiting. Duke's home venue, Cameron Indoor Stadium, has seen a decline in performance with at least three losses in three of the last four seasons, unlike their previous history in which this occurred only a handful of times. With a total of 2,300 victories, the program sits just behind Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina on the all-time wins list.