The hype has been building all season. Since the moment Cooper Flagg committed to the Blue Devils, Duke has had one goal: winning a national championship. Flagg’s debut was everything people expected it to be. However, after taking early losses to Kansas and Kentucky, people thought Duke couldn’t handle the pressure and win the national championship in 2025.
Those people weren’t expecting the turnaround that happened in Durham. They’ve lost just one game since, a road test against Clemson. That includes a win over the number one overall seed, Auburn. Duke has looked unstoppable at times and even won the ACC Championship without Cooper Flagg. Flagg will likely be back for the NCAA Tournament, making Duke a favorite to win the 2025 national championship. Get your brackets ready: the signs are here for why Duke will win it all.
Why Duke Will Win the 2025 National Championship
Incredible Supporting Cast
How many teams can boast multiple top-10 picks in the upcoming NBA draft as role players? That’s where Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach will likely find themselves drafted. Knueppel could be a bonified star on virtually any other team in the country and is the number two option on the Blue Devils. Tyrese Proctor has elite shooting ability and brings a strong veteran presence to such a young squad. Sion James brings that same level of competitive fire and veteran presence to the point guard position. Maliq Brown is one of the best defenders in the country when he is not injured. Mason Gillis just made a run to the 2024 national championship game with Purdue. No team is deeper (and taller) than the Blue Devils. Duke’s 2025 national championship will only happen because of its strong depth.
Stifling Defense, Electric Offense
Duke’s KenPom ratings only tell part of the story, but it’s quite the tale. Only one team ranks in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. On defense, their elite size keeps the passing lanes small. Shots are always contested, and turnovers and blocks flow freely. The Blue Devils can switch at every single position to create lethal defensive pressure. Offensively they flow so smoothly with three or four players who can drive to the basket at any given time. That leaves a lot of open shots on the outside or dunks on the inside. When their offense is humming, it’s nearly impossible to stop them.
The Superstar
Duke’s 2025 national championship run relies on depth, but it would be nothing without their superstar. Flagg has been stirring the pot in NBA mock drafts for months. He scores at an elite rate, rebounds well, is a championship-level defender, can play point guard if necessary, and has that killer instinct to take over. When all is said and done, he should win National Player of the Year this season because of everything he does. Flagg receives more attention than any player in the country and is just as productive as any player in the country on a team that hasn’t lost in four months. His injury immediately brought their championship hopes far down. However, with him in the lineup, after the injury turned out to be more minor than originally expected, they immediately jumped to co-favorites with Auburn. Only he can have that impact.
Duke: The 2025 National Champions
Duke is loaded, their star is elite. Their path is more manageable than some other top seeds. Nothing less than a championship will suffice. And truly, they should be the favorite. I wouldn’t pick a single team to beat them right now except maybe Auburn, who they already beat. They may not have the Q1 wins Auburn has to earn them the number one overall seed, but they are the best team in the country. Ultimately, I like Duke’s chances to bring the 2025 national championship trophy home to Durham.
Photo credit: © Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
