Something clicked inside Duke’s practice facility this week — and it wasn’t just the sound of sneakers squeaking across the hardwood. It was the realization that this year’s Blue Devils might be far ahead of schedule.
According to multiple team sources, Duke’s coaching staff walked away from recent closed practices with a very different perspective on what this group can be. The initial expectation? A team that would take time to gel — a mix of veteran guards, high-upside sophomores, and elite freshmen still learning the Duke standard. The new reality? They’re already playing like a team that’s been together for months.
“The chemistry’s unreal right now”
One insider described the practices as “shockingly sharp,” especially on the defensive end — an area that’s usually a growing pain for young rosters.
> “You can tell they’ve bought into competing,” one assistant told Duke insiders. “Nobody’s coasting, nobody’s waiting for someone else to set the tone. Every rep matters.”
The tone, it turns out, is being set by the veterans. Caleb Foster has been commanding practices like a senior point guard should — directing traffic, calling switches, and even challenging teammates when energy dips. His presence is reportedly giving the staff a calming confidence that the backcourt leadership is secure.
Then there’s Maliq Brown, the Syracuse transfer who has immediately stood out for his defensive IQ and relentless motor. “He’s the type of player that changes your practice culture,” one observer noted. “He doesn’t take plays off, and guys feed off that.”
Freshmen growing faster than expected
But what’s really rewriting the staff’s expectations are the freshmen. Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II have both shown flashes of being ready to contribute right away — Evans with his smooth scoring ability on the wing and Ngongba with his refined touch around the rim.
Head coach Jon Scheyer was reportedly impressed with how quickly the young players have adjusted to Duke’s pace and defensive schemes.
> “There’s a maturity there you don’t always see this early,” Scheyer said. “You can coach effort, but you can’t coach instincts — and some of these guys already have both.”
“This might be a different kind of Duke team”
The staff’s early notes reportedly describe this squad as “tougher, deeper, and hungrier” than last season’s group. The rotations are still fluid, but the internal competition has been fierce — a good sign for a team that wants to play fast and defend harder.
One source summed it up best:
> “We thought this was going to be a developmental year. Now, it’s looking like a statement year.”
With the season just weeks away, the mood around Duke basketball has shifted. What began as cautious optimism has turned into genuine belief that this team — with its mix of leadership, youth, and edge — might just surprise everyone, including the coaching staff that’s now rewriting its own expectations.
