Does Duke Have a Big Man Problem — or Just a New Kind of Strength?

Does Duke Have a Big Man Problem — or Just a New Kind of Strength?

Every offseason in Durham brings the same question: what will Duke basketball look like when the ball finally tips at Cameron Indoor? For decades under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the answer was never as straightforward as it seemed in the summer. Coach K made a career out of tweaking lineups, shifting pieces, and uncovering unexpected combinations that often defined Duke’s season. Now, in the Jon Scheyer era, those same questions resurface but the conversation has a very specific focus this year.

Does Duke have enough firepower and stability in the frontcourt?

It’s a fair question. The Blue Devils are losing the elite defensive presence of guys like Dereck Lively II and don’t have a towering rim protector like Khaman Maluach waiting in the wings. What they do have is a fascinating mix of size, versatility, and skill that could make this year’s team one of the most unpredictable  and maybe, one of the most dangerous.

The Known Commodity: Cameron Boozer

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Cameron Boozer is going to start. At 6-foot-9 with NBA-ready strength, the top recruit in the country brings an inside-outside skillset that most freshmen simply don’t possess. He can post up, stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and facilitate offense when needed.

The question isn’t whether Boozer plays big minutes  it’s how much of that time comes at power forward versus center. If Scheyer leans into modern lineups, Boozer could find himself as a small-ball 5 more often than expected. His versatility alone gives Duke flexibility that most programs would envy.

The Injury Concerns: Patrick Ngongba II and Maliq Brown

Here’s where things get tricky. Both Patrick Ngongba II and Maliq Brown bring plenty of talent but also come with health concerns. Ngongba, when healthy, is a steady interior scorer with a knack for rebounding. Brown, a transfer from Syracuse, has already proven himself as one of the ACC’s elite defenders, capable of guarding in space while anchoring the paint.

If both stay on the court and out of foul trouble, Duke doesn’t really have a problem. In fact, they might have one of the more underrated big-man duos in the country. But if injuries resurface? Suddenly, the Blue Devils are thin, and Boozer’s workload in the paint increases dramatically.

The X-Factors: Sebastian Wilkins and Nik Khamenia

It’s a little surprising how little some conversations mention Sebastian Wilkins. At 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, Wilkins has the body to bang inside and the mentality to do the dirty work. He’s rugged, physical, and ahead of schedule development-wise. If he proves he can hold his own defensively, he instantly shores up Duke’s frontcourt depth.

Then there’s Nik Khamenia, a freshman who might not be physically ready to battle elite ACC centers but has the basketball IQ and skillset to make an impact immediately. His passing vision, three-point shooting, and feel for the game make him one of those rare “connector” players who could sneak into the lineup. Once his body catches up to his game? Watch out.

A Modern Twist: Do They Even Need a Traditional Big?

Here’s the bigger picture: maybe Duke doesn’t need a classic seven-footer to dominate the middle anymore. The modern college game rewards versatility, spacing, and switchability. Boozer at the 5 with four shooters and creators around him could make Duke virtually unguardable.

Add in the backcourt depth  Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, and others  and suddenly the Blue Devils’ offense could hum without relying on a single dominant big man.

The Verdict

So, does Duke have a “big man problem”? Maybe. They don’t have the obvious rim protector or surefire All-American center that past Blue Devils have leaned on. But they do have options. A versatile superstar in Boozer, a defensive stalwart in Brown, a skilled interior scorer in Ngongba, and two high-upside freshmen in Wilkins and Khamenia.

In short: Duke’s inside game may look different this season. But different doesn’t mean worse. If anything, this group has the chance to be more flexible, more modern, and perhaps even more effective in March.

The Blue Devils may not have a Lively or a Maluach, but they might have something just as dangerous: unpredictability.