Duke basketball: 2019-20 season review and 2020-2021 first-look preview

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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 07: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives between Tre Jones #3 and Vernon Carey Jr. #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 89-76. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Duke basketball’s season came to an abrupt end with no March Madness this year so let’s take stock on the year that was and an early look at what’s next for the Blue Devils.

There are always high expectations at Duke basketball and the potential was certainly there for an extended stay at the NCAA Tournament this season. The Blue Devils didn’t have as high of a ceiling without Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett but everything was trending toward a solid year for Duke.

The regular season was a bit of a roller coaster as Duke had some high highs, like topping Kansas at Madison Square Garden and Michigan State in East Lansing, and low lows like road losses to Clemson and Wake Forest. Despite all the adversity, Duke finished the regular season as the fourth seed in the ACC Tournament, set up for a quarterfinal matchup with NC State before the season was halted.

Assuming the season continued, Duke was projected to be a three seed in the Midwest region, drawing no. 14 seed Belmont before getting the winner of the 6-11 game between Iowa and East Tennessee State. That matchup would have been tricky for Duke but they likely advance to the Sweet 16 before a date with Kentucky.

This is where the run likely ends for Duke, with Kentucky having a deeper team that is better defensively. The Blue Devils’ weakness all year was their suspect defense and it likely would have doomed their chances of returning to the Final Four.