DBP Newsletter #76

Season wrap-up '24-'25

May 01, 2025

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“The thing I loved about this group, they had a purity to them….Obviously we came up short of winning the whole thing, which is what we wanted to do. But 35 wins, how hard these guys played, how together they played. You just thank them all. I couldn't be more grateful in 2025 to have this connected of a group. It's hard to do.” - Jon Scheyer

I put off writing the final newsletter of the season for an extra week or so, though I’ll admit May 1st is a little late for the season wrap-up. This Duke team was so much fun. Tough, together, and competitive are three more words that also come to mind. The truth is, I could work on wrapping up the season for another month and wouldn’t do it justice. Of course, everyone in the program hoped for a different outcome in San Antonio, and this team was certainly worthy of a national title. However, I reject the idea that Duke has only had five great teams. Yes, as Coach Scheyer mentioned, this group came up short of what they wanted to do, but it also had one of the historically great Duke seasons - more than one thing can be true. Prior to the Final Four, Duke had won 31 of their previous 32 games. Let’s take a look at some of the other impressive numbers behind the 2024-2025 season.

Seven Duke teams have won the outright ACC regular season, the ACC Tournament, and advanced to the Final Four in the same season: 2025; 1999; 1992; 1986; 1966; 1964; 1963.1

Six Duke teams have won at least 35 games in a season: 2025 (35-4); 2015 (35-4); 2010 (35-5); 2001 (35-4); 1999 (37-2); 1986 (37-3).2

Seven Duke teams have finished in the top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency: 2025; 2010; 2004; 2002; 2001; 1999; 1998.3

Until last season, the final AP poll was always released prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament. Duke has finished #1 in the final AP rankings eight times: 2019; 2006; 2002; 2001; 2000; 1999; 1992; 1986. If the final poll was still done prior to the NCAA Tournament, the 2025 team would also be on this list. The Blue Devils ascended to #1 for the first time under Jon Scheyer, spending the last two weeks of the season as the top team in the nation.4

Early in the season (DBP #4), I noted that only one Duke team had ever attempted more than 40% of its shots from beyond the arc, and wondered if this team would become the second. The 2025 Blue Devils posted the highest three-point attempt percentage (3PA%) in Duke history, just ahead of the 2001 team: 2025 (44.6%); 2001 (41.8%); 2016 (39.9%); 2005 (39.8%) - though Coach K’s third title team had more total attempts from deep (1,057 3PA v. 1,020 3PA).

It was especially fun to watch this team share the basketball, eclipsing a 58% assist rate for the third time since Duke began tracking assists during the 1968-1969 season: 1992 (58.9%); 1989 (58.8%); 2025 (58.5%); 1987 (57.9%); 2018 (57.6%); 2001 (57.6%).

Cooper Flagg swept the National Player of the Year awards, becoming the 10th Duke player to be named NPOY: Flagg (2025), Williamson (2019), Redick (2005 & 2006), Williams (2001 & 2002), Battier (2001), Brand (1999), Laettner (1992), Ferry (1989), Dawkins (1986), Heyman (1963).5

Jon Scheyer became the second coach in NCAA history to reach the Elite Eight twice in his first three seasons. He also joined the list of eight coaches who have both played and coached in the Final Four: Jon Scheyer, Hubert Davis, Billy Donovan, Bob Knight, Dean Smith, Vic Bubas, Bones McKinney, Dick Harp. No coach has more wins in his first three seasons than Jon Scheyer (89).6

Duke’s trip to San Antonio was the 18th Final Four in program history, tied for second all-time. Duke earned a #1-seed for the 15th time since seeding began in 1979, also tied for second.7

ACC

Duke ranked #1 in the ACC in 10 categories: scoring offense (83.2), scoring defense (62.8), scoring margin (+20.5), free throw percentage (.790), field goal percentage (.493), three-point field goal percentage (.386), field goal percentage defense (.384), rebounding margin (+7.2), assists (16.97), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.82). The Blue Devils won the ACC Tournament for a record 23rd time, and won at least a share of the regular season crown for the 21st time.

Here’s the final ACC metrics per KenPom.com:

In the Building

I went to an NCAA Tournament game for only the second time, making the drive up to Raleigh for the Round of 32 on Sunday afternoon. It was awesome of my buddy to invite me - we only talked basketball for seven consecutive hours. Florida and UConn went down to the wire, Cooper Flagg caught an alley-oop to punctuate an 18-6 run to close the first half, Tyrese Proctor threw flames all afternoon (7 of 8 from deep), and Duke advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. I also got a chance to see the Blue Devils play at home against Wofford with my cousin,8 and in the ACC Tournament against Georgia Tech. Going to a ball game with good company is still, to me, one of the best ways to spend an afternoon (win or lose). I’ll remember this one for a while…

Season Stats

Here are some select statistics from the postseason. The regular season table is included as well (also in DBP #17). I tracked a total of 21 statistical categories throughout the year, and hope to make the full spreadsheet available at some point.

Favorite Moments

Every year I say I’m going to keep a list of all the winning plays, great assists, key defensive possessions, etc. from the season. I failed again, though I am proud of the game clips I cut throughout the year.

Here are some of my favorite images from the season:

And if you need some season highlights:

The older I get, the more I appreciate how difficult (and how rare) it is to be the last team standing on Monday night. It makes me want it a little more each year, not for myself as a fan, but for all those guys in Durham. The season was about more than just numbers. This team had a quality to them that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. They were unique. They were tough, together, and competitive - and talented. But I love that Coach Scheyer used the word “purity” when describing this group. That’s it. The 2024-2025 team was pure. Pure effort, pure sharing, pure Duke Basketball.

Thanks for reading, Go Duke!

If you include shared ACC regular season titles, the 2001 and 2010 teams join the list.

The 1992 team went 34-2.

Duke efficiency since 1997:
2025 - #1 offense (130.1); #5 defense (90.8)
2010 - #1 offense (121.0); #5 defense (87.7)
2004 - #2 offense (120.8); #3 defense (88.5)
2002 - #1 offense (121.0); #1 defense (86.8)
2001 - #2 offense (123.9); #3 defense (86.6)
1999 - #1 offense (127.7); #3 defense (84.7)
1998 - #3 offense (120.3); #1 defense (85.5)

Duke was the AP #1 in the March 10 and March 17 rankings. Here’s my article from last season, celebrating 75 years of the AP Poll.

Here’s my article on the history of the NPOY award.

CBS had the Elite Eight stat during the Alabama game (see picture above), but did not include the other coach - I will keep researching. Head coach wins in first three seasons: Jon Scheyer - Duke (89), Brad Stevens - Butler (89), Brad Underwood - Stephen F. Austin (89)

Final Fours all-time: North Carolina (21), Duke (18), UCLA (18), Kentucky (17), Kansas (15) #1-seeds all-time: North Carolina (18), Duke (15), Kansas (15), Kentucky (12)

Wofford scored 35 points, the fewest by a Duke opponent since 1968.

Sources (added after publishing due to email length)

Duke Basketball Reference

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