Helena Frye
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team has a rich history, with five national championships under their belt and a strong NCAA tournament record. The team has a passionate following and a fierce rivalry with the Carolina Tar Heels, with some fans even claiming they would support the Taliban over Duke. The Blue Devils have produced many notable alumni, including Cooper Flagg, the number one pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and Christian Laettner, who hit a game-winning shot in the 1992 Elite Eight. With a talented roster and a respected coach in Jon Scheyer, the Blue Devils are always a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Duke Blue Devils |
| University | Duke University |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) |
| Coach | Jon Scheyer |
| Championships | 5 national championships |
| Championship Game Appearances | 11 |
| Final Four Appearances | 18 |
| Tournament Winning Percentage | .755 |
| National Players of the Year | 11 |
| NBA Draft Picks | 72 |
| First Overall Picks | 6 |
| All-Americans | 36 |
| Academic All-Americans | 14 |
| Notable Alumni | Jared McCain, Tyrese Proctor, Cooper Flagg |
| Upcoming Schedule | Tennessee, UCF, Texas, Western Carolina, Army, Indiana State, Kansas, Niagara |
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What You'll Learn
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team history
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team has a rich history and is currently one of the most successful college basketball programmes in the NCAA Division I. The team represents Duke University and competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). They have achieved numerous milestones and produced many notable players and coaches over the years.
One of the earliest notable achievements of the Duke Blue Devils was in 1967 when they reached the national title game, losing to UCLA. This began a period of dominance for UCLA, as they claimed 10 titles in the next 12 years. Despite falling short in the championship game, it marked the beginning of Duke's rise as a basketball powerhouse.
In 1974, the Duke Blue Devils basketball programme won its 1000th game, becoming only the eighth school in NCAA history to reach that milestone. This showcased the programme's consistent success and established them as one of the top basketball schools in the nation.
The 1978 season was a memorable one for the Blue Devils. Under Coach Bill Foster, the team had a turnaround season, improving from a 2–10 record in the ACC the previous year to winning the conference tournament and advancing to the NCAA championship game. However, they fell just short, losing to Kentucky in the final.
The Duke Blue Devils have consistently been ranked among the top teams in the nation by the AP poll. They have finished the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll eight times and hold the record for the most total weeks ranked as the number one team with 145 weeks. Additionally, they had a streak of 200 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25 from 1996 to 2007, showcasing their sustained excellence over more than two decades.
The programme has produced many notable players who have gone on to have successful careers in basketball, including Bob Verga, who was the team's star player in 1967. Many of their alumni have become head coaches at major universities and in the NBA, such as Tommy Amaker, Bob Bender, Chuck Swenson, and JJ Redick.
The Duke Blue Devils consider their primary rival to be the North Carolina Tar Heels. There is a longstanding agreement between the two schools: if Duke wins the first matchup, the Tar Heel's masthead is printed in Duke blue, and vice versa. The losing school's paper must also display the other school's logo prominently and claim that the winning school is "still the best."
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Duke's 2025-26 season preview
Duke Basketball, also known as the Blue Devils, has an impressive schedule for the 2025-26 season. The team will be led by coach Jon Scheyer, who has put together a strong roster with a combination of elite freshmen, seasoned players, and international talent. The Blue Devils are expected to compete for the national championship once again.
The season will kick off with two exhibition games against Tennessee and UCF, followed by Texas in Charlotte. The team will then face three less challenging opponents: Western Carolina, Army, and Indiana State. After that, Duke takes on Kansas in the Champions Classic before returning home to play Niagara and Howard. The Brotherhood Run will conclude with a game against Kenny Blakeney's Bisons.
ACC play begins on December 30th, with a game against the Yellow Jackets. Duke will then travel to face Florida State and Louisville before returning to Cameron to host Wake and Louisville. The Blue Devils will then hit the road again to take on Virginia Tech, BC, and UNC. A game against Pitt will follow, and finally, the traditional season-ending game against UNC.
Duke's roster for the 2025-26 season includes proven transfers, top-rated recruits, and strong returning contributors. Guard Caleb Foster, who averaged 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 27 games, returns after missing the ACC and NCAA tournaments due to injury. Isaiah Evans, Maliq Brown, Darren Harris, Patrick Ngongba II, and Cameron Sheffield are also expected to make significant contributions. The team has also added five-star twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the sons of former Duke standout Carlos Boozer. European guard Dame Sarr, who can shoot well outside, and Nikolas Khamenia, a versatile small forward, round out the impressive recruiting class.
Duke Football, also known as the Blue Devils, is coming off an outstanding rookie year under head coach Manny Diaz, finishing the regular season with a 9-3 record. The team has added Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, who is expected to make a significant impact. Duke is predicted to be a sleeper contender in the ACC for the 2025-26 season, with key conference wins predicted over NC State, Georgia Tech, Virginia, and Wake Forest.
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Duke's NBA draft picks
Duke University's basketball team, the Blue Devils, has a strong history of producing NBA draft picks, with 114 or 116 overall selections—one of only four college programs to surpass 100 picks. In the 2025 NBA Draft, Duke continued this legacy, with three Blue Devils selected in the top 10: Cooper Flagg, the number one overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks; Kon Knueppel, selected fourth by the Charlotte Hornets; and Khaman Maluach, chosen tenth by the Houston Rockets (and then traded to Phoenix). This marked the second time in NBA Draft history that three freshmen from the same school were selected in the top 10, the first time also being a trio from Duke in 2019: Zion Williamson (New Orleans, 1st), RJ Barrett (New York, 3rd), and Cam Reddish (Atlanta, 10th).
Duke's head coach, Jon Scheyer, has been instrumental in the team's NBA draft success. Since joining the coaching staff in 2013-14, Duke has produced 33 or 35 draft picks, with 26 or 28 of those being first-round selections. This includes six or seven picks in the first round in the three years since he became head coach.
Duke players have been selected by 29 of the 30 current NBA franchises, the exception being the Toronto Raptors. The Detroit franchise has drafted the most Blue Devils, with nine selections, followed by Chicago with seven, and then Boston and Golden State with six each.
Some other notable Duke NBA draft picks include:
- Art Heyman, selected first overall by the New York Knicks in 1963
- Elton Brand, selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1999
- Kyrie Irving, selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011
- Paolo Banchero, selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in 2022
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Duke's rivalry with the North Carolina Tar Heels
Duke University and the University of North Carolina have a long-standing and intense sports rivalry, particularly in men's and women's basketball. The rivalry is considered one of the most intense in all of US sports. The two universities are located only about ten miles apart, and their basketball teams have been facing off since 1920. The proximity of the universities and the fact that Duke is a private university while North Carolina is a public school further contribute to the intensity of the rivalry.
The Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball teams have a rich history of head-to-head meetings, with the Tar Heels holding a slight edge in wins. The rivalry is known for consistently featuring elite teams, with both Duke and UNC ranking among the top college basketball teams with the most first-round picks in NBA draft history. The games are often close and hard-fought, with only a small point differential between the teams over their many matchups.
The rivalry extends beyond the basketball court, with traditions and pranks surrounding the matchups. For example, the student newspapers of both universities engage in friendly rivalry, with spoof cover pages and fake news stories poking fun at each other. The rivalry has even extended to a video game, with "The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind" containing Easter eggs referencing the rivalry, implemented by a Duke alumnus developer.
The women's basketball teams of both universities have also developed a strong rivalry since the 1990s, with both teams consistently being among the strongest in the nation. The rivalry is not limited to basketball, as Duke and North Carolina have also developed a fierce rivalry in men's lacrosse that carries national implications.
The Duke-North Carolina rivalry is one of the most celebrated and intense in college sports, with a long history of close competitions and a passionate fan base on both sides. The rivalry extends beyond the realm of sports, with traditions and cultural significance surrounding the matchups, making it a unique and celebrated part of US sports culture.
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Duke's Blue Devils coaches
The Duke Blue Devils are currently coached by Jon Scheyer, who was appointed to the role in June 2021, following the retirement of previous head coach Mike Krzyzewski at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Scheyer, a former professional basketball player, had a long history with Duke, dating back to his freshman year in 2006. During his time as a player, he led his team to numerous victories and was widely recognised for his skills, including his understanding of the game and body control. He was also a prolific scorer, both in high school and college. In 2013, Scheyer joined Duke's men's basketball staff as a special assistant to Coach K, and over the years, worked his way up the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant coach and co-associate head coach before finally becoming the head coach of the Blue Devils.
Scheyer's connection to Illinois and his high school coach, who was the brother of the Illinois coach, may have influenced his basketball career. Interestingly, he initially disliked Duke's team when he was in junior high school because all his friends liked them, but ultimately chose to attend Duke, believing it provided him with the best chance of playing in the Final Four.
As a freshman, Scheyer started all 33 Blue Devils games, and his impressive performance continued throughout his college career. On December 2, 2009, he became the first Duke player to achieve several remarkable milestones, including recording 1,400 points, 400 rebounds, and 250 assists. He also played a crucial role in the team's victories, such as leading Duke past Gardner-Webb with a career-high performance.
With Scheyer now at the helm as head coach, it remains to be seen what new heights the Duke Blue Devils will reach under his leadership.
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Frequently asked questions
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is ranked fourth in wins in any NCAA men's basketball program.
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team has won five national championships.
Eleven Duke Blue Devils men's basketball players have been named National Player of the Year.
Seventy-two players from the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team have been selected for the NBA draft.
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team has an NCAA-best .755 NCAA tournament winning percentage.
