The One Piece That Kept the Blue Devils from Glory

ACC Preview #18, Duke: Part II — The One Piece That Kept the Blue Devils from Glory

By almost every metric, Duke’s 2024–25 basketball season was a triumph. The Blue Devils went 35–4, stormed into the Final Four, and came within a heartbeat of playing for another national championship. With three freshmen in the starting lineup Khaman Maluach, Kon Knueppel, and the phenom himself, Cooper Flagg Jon Scheyer’s squad looked like the rebirth of a dynasty.

Yet, for all the brilliance, the highlights, and the raw dominance, there was something missing. Something so glaring that when you look back now, you can’t help but wonder if it cost Duke a banner.

Flagg’s Brilliance

Cooper Flagg wasn’t just a freshman  he was a revelation. Few players in history could float seamlessly between all five positions on the floor. Magic Johnson could do it. Maybe Larry Bird. And now, Flagg. That’s how rare his versatility was.

Though listed at forward, Flagg was essentially positionless. Call him the “Smart” piece on the chessboard. Or maybe the Queen  the player who could do it all. And he did it all for Duke.

But basketball can be cruel. In the ACC Tournament against Georgia Tech, Flagg’s body finally betrayed him. An injury forced him to sit. And yet Duke didn’t crumble. Instead, Knueppel rose to the occasion, proving himself more than just a sidekick. His MVP performance as Duke captured the ACC Tournament reminded everyone just how deep this freshman class was.

The Harsh Truth Behind the Losses

But when you look at Duke’s losses  Kentucky, Kansas, Clemson, and Houston the cracks begin to show. Each game was tight. Each game came down to possessions in the final minute.

And each time, it was Flagg  a freshman  tasked with making the defining play.

• Against Kentucky, two turnovers in the final 60 seconds.
• Against Kansas, another costly turnover with :48 left.
• Against Clemson, a slip with :14 left.
• Against Houston, a missed shot that could have sealed the game.

Flagg was everything Duke dreamed he would be, but he was still 18. Still human. Still prone to freshman mistakes.

What Duke Didn’t Have

The truth is simple: Duke didn’t have a natural point guard to steady the storm.

Since 2015, the Blue Devils have only landed two true elite floor generals  Tyus Jones and Tre Jones. Both were program-changers. Both gave Duke late-game control. Scheyer, brilliant in so many aspects of his takeover from Coach K, has yet to land that kind of quarterback.

Look at history: when Duke thrived at the highest level, there was always a steady hand at the point. Tommy Amaker, Bobby Hurley, Quinn Snyder, Jon Scheyer himself  players who thrived under pressure, who calmed the chaos.

Last year’s squad didn’t have that. Jeremy Roach had been the last steady option, and even he was eventually moved off the role.

What If?

It’s the question that lingers: what if?

What if Duke had a Jones brother running the offense last year? What if they had a Hurley, or even Scheyer himself, controlling those final possessions? Would Kentucky, Kansas, Clemson, and Houston have all gone the other way? Would Flagg be holding up a championship trophy instead of preparing for the NBA Draft with “what-ifs” swirling around his lone season in Durham?

The Next Chapter

The past can’t be rewritten, and great point guards can’t be conjured out of thin air. But Duke enters 2025–26 with hope. There are two new candidates for the job, and in the next installment of this ACC Preview, we’ll take a closer look at whether one of them can finally solve Duke’s most glaring weakness.

Because if they do, Scheyer’s team won’t just be good they’ll be terrifying.