Fansided

College basketball’s preseason No. 1: 5 teams stake their claim

By Chris Stone

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: Allonzo Trier #35 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 16: Allonzo Trier #35 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 05: Marvin Bagley, Jr., the top high school recruit in the class of 2018, brings the ball up the court during a Drew League game at Los Angeles Southwest College on August 5th, 2017. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 05: Marvin Bagley, Jr., the top high school recruit in the class of 2018, brings the ball up the court during a Drew League game at Los Angeles Southwest College on August 5th, 2017. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Duke Blue Devils

One of college basketball’s favorite questions over the last two seasons has been, “Is Duke back?” Since winning a national title in 2015, the Blue Devils have failed to live up to their abnormally high expectations. They went 25-11 in 2015-16 behind the back-and-forth isolation show starring Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram before finishing 28-9 last season as two of their prized recruits, Marques Bolden and Harry Giles, didn’t deliver as promised.

With Marvin Bagley III’s commitment, though, we may finally have the answer. Duke is, in fact, back. Not only is Bagley the best high school basketball player in America, a potential No. 1 pick and a candidate to win National Player of the Year, he also fills the Blue Devils’ biggest frontcourt hole. Bolden was likely slated to start the season next to another top 10 prospect, Wendell Carter Jr., but now he won’t have to as Bagley and Carter can handle the bulk of the load while he develops at his own pace.

To go along with one of the nation’s most talented frontcourts, Duke also has one of its best backcourts as well. Grayson Allen is back for his senior season after averaging 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per 40 minutes last season. He’ll benefit from having a true point guard next to him this time around, too. 5-star talent Trevon Duval will join Allen in the backcourt in Durham. He’s an explosive athlete who should have no problem creating offense at the college level.

On paper, the Blue Devils may have the most talent laden roster in the country, yet how the pieces fit together will be a concern. Of the players mentioned so far, Allen is the only proven shooter. Bagley is a theoretical one at this point, Duval has never shown much accuracy from range and Carter is maxes out in the mid-range. The key, then, will be how 5-star wing Gary Trent Jr. or 4-star forward Jordan Tucker can help space the floor as the final starter.

For now, let’s set those questions aside and just revel in the glory that is Duke finally being back.