Duke in Familiar Battle for ACC Offseason Crown

It’s no secret that the Duke basketball program has generated one of the best offseason hauls of any team in college basketball, leaving the Blue Devils primed to enter the 2026-27 season as a top-three-to-five team in the land.

Head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff are bringing back four of their top six scorers from a season ago in Patrick Ngongba, Dame Sarr, Caleb Foster, and Cayden Boozer, along with the No. 1 overall 2026 recruiting class.

TCU Horned Frogs guard Tanner Toolson (55) rebounds near Duke Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer (2) March 21, 2026 during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament second round East Region game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Blue Devils also inked a few signings via the transfer portal, namely former Belmont forward Drew Scharnowski and former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell.

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Entering next season, Duke will likely be the favorite out of the ACC. However, the Blue Devils are in a familiar battle with another squad over who should be considered the league’s frontrunner.

Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer reacts in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game 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

Duke and Louisville Top Two ACC Teams Heading Into 2026-27 Season

Scheyer’s club boasts a perfect mix of returning rotation pieces, talented veterans, and elite freshman prospects. This is probably the deepest and most championship-ready team Scheyer has had since he took over at Duke, which will also put the pressure on the team to execute come postseason time.

However, for the second season in a row, Louisville isn’t far behind in second place.

Mar 21, 2026; Buffalo, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during a…

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Publish date : 2026-05-06 14:00:00

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