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Duke basketball: 50 best players to play for Coach K

By Matthew Travis

Nov 12, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to a game against the Army Black Knights at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to a game against the Army Black Knights at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Best Duke Basketball Players
2 Dec 1998: Forward Chris Carrawell #23 of Duke Blue Devils looks on during the Great Eight Classic against the Michigan State Spartans at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Duke defeated Michigan State 73-67. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

26. Chris Carrawell (1996-2000)

From one ACC Player of the Year to another, Chris Carrawell is now known as the associate head coach for Duke, but his accomplishments on the court shouldn’t be forgotten. Carrawell got to Duke in 1996, a program that had made the Final Four seven times in the previous 10 years, and the same program that had just missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 years. Duke fans were hungry for success.

Carrawell didn’t play a huge role in his freshman and sophomore seasons, starting a combined 22 of 63 games over the two seasons, but his junior year, in 1998-99, was when he emerged as a key piece for the Blue Devils. Carrawell started 38 of 39 games during the 1998-99 season, helping the Blue Devils to the Nation Championship where they would, unfortunately, lose to UConn. But his senior season, the 1999-2000 season, was when he cemented his legacy.

During Carrawell’s senior season, he averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, which was good enough for the ACC Player of the Year Award as he helped Duke win the ACC Regular Season, and Tournament Titles.