5 Reasons To Get Excited for 2026-27 Duke Basketball

With a 19-point lead against UConn, many fans believed Duke was on its way to back-to-back Final Four appearances. That unfortunately did not happen, as UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins broke Blue Devil hearts with a logo three at the buzzer.

Now, Jon Scheyer will have a significantly different roster heading into next season. Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, and Patrick Ngongba will likely all leave for the NBA, Maliq Brown graduates, and there are questions about whether additional players could enter the transfer portal.

Mar 26, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer speaks with the media during a press conference ahead of the east regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

While Duke fans may not be as eager heading into next year as they were at this time last season, there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about what is coming. Let’s break them down.

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No Preseason Player of the Year Favorite at Duke

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) talks to Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21) during a stoppage in play against the UConn Huskies in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Cameron Boozer is likely to win the National Player of the Year award, giving Jon Scheyer back-to-back freshmen players to claim the honor. Next year, there most likely will not be a frontrunner for the award on the roster, and that should actually be exciting for Duke fans.

Without a transcendent star carrying all of the expectations, people watching college basketball next season will be reminded of just how good a coach Jon Scheyer is. After having Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer in back-to-back years, it will be equally compelling to watch which player steps into the role of…

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Publish date : 2026-04-03 21:45:00

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