The Athletic’s CJ Moore released an updated ranking for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season on Thursday, and after previously having the Blue Devils atop his rankings, he completely dropped Duke basketball from his top five.
Alabama, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, and Iowa State all jumped above the Blue Devils in the rankings updated after the NBA draft withdrawal deadline.
Moore said he could see a world where the Blue Devils, with multiple five-star freshmen coming off the bench as rotational pieces, dominate the sport. He just doesn’t think it’s a given.
“It wouldn’t be shocking if this is the best team in college basketball based on the talent level,” Moore wrote. “With so much youth, I want to see it first.”
Moore did praise the team defensively, between No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg and 7-footer Khaman Maluach in the frontcourt and Tyrese Proctor returning in the backcourt. He also highlighted Duke’s size with every key contributor at least 6-foot-5. He just remains wary of the inexperience.
“Leaning on freshmen only works when those are top-end lottery picks,” he concluded. “Scheyer is banking on Flagg living up to the hype.”