Duke continues to reside within a title drought despite numerous elite recruiting classes. When was the last time the Blue Devils won a national championship?
Duke Fails to Turn Recruits into Champions
After one of the most profound collapses in NCAA Tournament history, Duke finds itself again on the shorter end of the result. If the program lacked talent, you could see why they lost a five-point lead with under a minute to go. On the contrary, Jon Scheyer has every possible advantage heading into the game. For example, the Blue Devils starters average six-foot-eight inches tall.
Meanwhile, Houston stood just six-foot-five. In Division 1, you just don’t see that too. After the game, Scheyer spoke about the tea to the Durham Herald-Sun.
“For this year,” Scheyer said, “we felt very confident” that this class we had coming in could impact winning immediately. Next year, we have a group that can do the same. I think it’s going to vary from year to year. Next year may be a little bit more. Then you supplement in the portal based on readiness.”
The Lucky Day in Indianapolis
The last time Duke won the national championship occurred on April 6, 2015. Facing the Badgers, Duke struggled to get their bearings, and it took the worst game management gaffes by then-Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.
Wisconsin All-American center enjoyed success against Duke’s Jahlil Okafor. When Duke picked up his fourth foul, the Badgers led by four points with 9:18 left.
From that point until after the four-minute TV timeout, Wisconsin needed to feed Kaminsky, who enjoyed a skill advantage over his opponents. Yet, the Badgers fell in love with the three-point shot. When Okafor returned, Wisconsin trailed by one.
However, the touches to Kaminsky stopped. Okafor got comfortable. That win, on the biggest stage, proved to be the last one for the program in the ensuing decade.
OTD in 2015…
Duke took down Wisconsin to win the National Championship 🏆pic.twitter.com/gfEQByPFVI
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) April 6, 2024
The One and Dones
Make no mistake: Duke will always bring top talent to their school. However, for an institution that once prided itself on one above the one-and-done players, a few went through that locker room on their way to the NBA. When Jayson Tatum was in 2016, 24/7 Sports named their recruiting class the best in the country. Whtum didn’t disappoint, averaging 16.8 points.
That didn’t have the number two seeds in the East. Duke ran into South Carolina in the tournament. After committing eighteen turnovers, the Gamecocks sent the Blue Devils packing.
After Tatum shipped to Boston, the trio of Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, and R.J. Barrett gained the basketball team another top ranking from 247 Sports. Sitting in and around the top spot during the regular season, Duke looked like a lock for the national championship. After squeaking by Virginia Tech, the team could not overcome a well-coached team.
In 2021, analysts fawned over Paolo Banchero and touted him as the one to bring another title to Durham. For as talented as he was, fate intervened in this scenario. In about a month, North Carolina handed Mike Krzyzewski a loss during his last home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium and his last NCAA loss in the Regional Final.
Overview
For as much press and fanfare as you see the Duke commits attracting, they will eventually leave campus after a year or so.
KEEP READING: ‘335-0’ Houston Defy Unimaginable Odds To Make a 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers-Style Comeback To Beat Duke
Now, Cooper Flagg looks to join Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, and Cam Reddish. Granted, they all made millions in the NBA, and you cannot begrudge success. However, until the program attracts more than one-and-done, this will not change.
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