The question that looms large over college basketball as the NCAA Tournament intensifies is simple: Can Duke win it all? The Blue Devils, armed with talent, tradition, and a rejuvenated program under head coach Jon Scheyer, look poised to make a deep run. Yet, winning a national championship is never just about hype or historical relevance. It’s about matchups, execution, resilience, and moments that define legacies. For Duke, the road to glory isn’t easy, but it’s certainly navigable. Here’s how they could chart their course to a sixth national title.
Duke’s strength in 2025 starts with its blend of experienced returners and high-upside freshmen. Jared McCain, if he bypasses the NBA, is a linchpin for the Blue Devils. His offensive versatility, court awareness, and leadership give Scheyer a dependable guard to trust in March. Combine that with the emergence of Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor, and Duke has a backcourt capable of dictating pace and tempo in any game. Depth here has been a weakness in prior years, but 2025 offers an improvement with strong perimeter rotations and quality defenders.
Up front, Kyle Filipowski’s decision to stay another year gave Duke a significant frontcourt boost. His footwork, shooting touch, and ability to stretch the floor make him a matchup nightmare. Even more, his emotional edge brings a toughness that Duke teams have sometimes lacked in the post-Coach K era. If Mark Mitchell and Sean Stewart can consistently contribute defensively and on the glass, Duke has the kind of physicality required to battle through bruising tournament games.
What separates this Duke squad from some of its underwhelming predecessors is that it has learned from past disappointments. Scheyer’s first tournament run ended in a thud against Tennessee in 2023. Last season, Duke bowed out to NC State in the Elite Eight, a painful exit that has lingered in the minds of returners. But those losses were part of the necessary growing pains for a young coach finding his voice and system. Now, Scheyer has retooled his philosophy—less isolation-heavy offense, more motion and spacing. He’s trusting his veterans, not just relying on his five-star recruits to carry the weight.
Still, navigating the NCAA Tournament is more than roster construction. The path matters. Duke must first survive the early rounds, typically loaded with scrappy mid-majors and under-seeded power programs. These games are about focus and not playing down to the opponent. For Duke, the key here is staying disciplined on defense and avoiding early foul trouble—particularly for Filipowski and Mitchell, who are prone to picking up cheap whistles. A first or second-round opponent with a hot-shooting backcourt could pose a real threat if Duke doesn’t rotate sharply or close out on shooters.
Assuming they advance to the Sweet 16, Duke would likely run into a fellow blue-blood or a red-hot team riding momentum. Think Kansas, Baylor, or even a team like Illinois. These are the “coin-flip” games that test your mettle. Here, Duke’s backcourt advantage should shine. McCain and Proctor can control tempo, limit turnovers, and find late-game shots when things slow down. But the X-factor will be bench scoring. Ryan Young, TJ Power, or someone from the second unit must give Duke 6–10 quality points in tight games. That could mean the difference between moving on and watching from home.
Defensively, Duke has made strides. They’re not the elite unit that wins 58-55 slugfests, but they’ve learned to use length and versatility to switch on screens, challenge shots, and guard without fouling. Their ability to disrupt passing lanes, coupled with improved rebounding, gives them a legitimate identity on that side of the floor. In March, defense travels. Even when the offense sputters, Scheyer’s group needs to get timely stops. If they can string together multiple possessions without letting opponents get clean looks, they become very hard to beat.
The Final Four, should they reach it, introduces another layer: mental toughness. Every player on the roster must embrace the pressure. In recent years, Duke has suffered from moments where the stage seemed too big—overthinking plays, missing free throws, or letting physical opponents bully them. But this year’s team feels more mature. The 2025 Blue Devils have a chip on their shoulder and the self-belief that they belong in the national title conversation. Veterans like Proctor and Filipowski will need to carry that confidence into high-stakes matchups.
Coaching, too, becomes critical. Scheyer doesn’t yet have the big-game reputation of someone like Bill Self or Scott Drew. But he’s grown tactically. He’s now more willing to adjust mid-game, shift lineups, and play matchup basketball. Whether it’s going small to outshoot opponents or going big to pound the paint, Scheyer’s flexibility could be a huge asset. March Madness is about reacting in real time—timeouts, substitutions, mismatches—and Scheyer’s evolution could finally mirror Duke’s elite talent level.
One underrated asset in Duke’s corner is chemistry. Past one-and-done teams lacked cohesion. But this group, with a strong mix of second- and third-year players alongside incoming impact freshmen, has bonded. They communicate, they celebrate together, and they cover for each other’s mistakes. This intangible has led to signature wins during the regular season. In tight tournament games, trust between teammates is invaluable. When one player steps up, others fall into place, not out of rhythm.
Of course, the competition is brutal. Purdue, led by Zach Edey, remains a threat if they avoid another early collapse. Kansas is battle-tested. UConn continues to be a machine. And there’s always a wildcard team—someone like Houston, Creighton, or Arizona—that catches fire and upsets the expected bracket. Duke’s margin for error is slim. Injuries, poor shooting nights, or even just bad officiating can swing everything. They’ll need a bit of luck, like all champions do.
But there’s a reason Duke is in the conversation. Few teams in America have as complete a roster. Few teams can roll out five legitimate scorers, all capable of 15+ point nights. Few teams can adjust stylistically—run-and-gun one night, grind-it-out the next. And few teams have the history of winning when it matters most. For all the criticism Duke often receives—too polished, too privileged, too hated—they’ve consistently shown up when the games count.
So, can Duke basketball win it all in 2025?
The answer is yes—but not by default. They’ll need to bring their best version every night. They’ll need Scheyer to out-coach some of the best in the business. They’ll need veterans to lead and freshmen to mature quickly. They’ll need to hit their free throws, dominate the glass, and avoid foul trouble. The margin is thin, but the window is open.
This team doesn’t have Zion Williamson or JJ Redick or Christian Laettner. But it does have a hunger to return Duke to the top of the sport—not just as a brand, but as a champion. For Scheyer and his players, the time is now. The path is difficult. The mountain is steep. But for the 2025 Duke Blue Devils, winning it all isn’t a dream—it’s a mission, and the pieces are in place to finish the job.
