ACC Countdown Preview

#2. Duke

Games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams: 13

Best non-conference game: Dec. 19 vs Gonzaga (in New York City)

Projected Starting Five:

C - Brian Zoubek (Senior)

F - Lance Thomas (Senior)

F - Kyle Singler (Junior)

G - Jon Scheyer (Senior)

G - Nolan Smith (Junior)

When the season ended, I thought Duke would definitely be the team to beat this coming season. But the momentum hasn't really been on their side. First, Gerald Henderson decided he was going in the NBA Draft. Then, Elliot Williams decided to transfer closer to his family. That leaves a Duke team for the first time in a long time with actually more big men to play with than guards. The depth behind Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith is not very impressive. And Coach K might have to play a lot more zone than he is comfortable with.

That said, this still is a very talented team as any team that puts on the Duke uniforms is. Kyle Singler is a special talent and has a chance to be an All-America type player. I wish he wouldn't race out to the 3 point line so much and concentrate on a mid-range game. We'll see if that happens this year. And Jon Scheyer, despite being somewhat maligned last year, still can shoot lights out. Plus there is some reason for optimism with a pair of twin big guys coming in, the Plumlees.

So what does that mean for Duke this year? Their usual non-conference schedule of a lot of home games should help the team establish its identity. I have a feeling Coach K will try a fair number of different lineups to find one that sticks. This is a team that I would put somewhere in the 10-15 range in the nation, and one that certainly has a shot of getting back to a second straight Sweet 16.