The impression was likely made at the turn of this century, and has persisted despite fading relevance for going on a decade. Now an intimation of those better times may be at hand.
We know that the number
of games a team wins at the outset of a season isn’t particularly noteworthy – it’s more important how you finish and all that. Still, a strong start that makes a statement of strength and catches the attention of opponents and even poll voters, is always encouraging.
Over the decades, and well before the shift from Mike Krzyzewski to Jon Scheyer, Duke faced similar rosters of opponents with varying abilities prior to commencing ACC competition in earnest. Consequently, it’s reasonable to regard Blue Devil victory totals as analogous from year to year, making comparisons useful if not definitive.
By program standards, then, this year’s start already is unusual, the best since the 2019-20 season, when the Blue Devils likewise got out of the gate with a 7-0 mark. This also is obviously the most successful debut of Scheyer’s brief four-year tenure.
Only once in the past 10 seasons has Duke won more than this year’s seven games to commence a season. That contrasts with the period from 2001 through 2006, when five of six Duke teams opened with double-digit wins.
Next up is Arkansas and coach John Calipari on Scheyer’s old home turf at Chicago. Duke historically is 1-2 versus the SEC club, their most recent meeting an 80-75 Razorback win in Fayetteville in 2023.
Arkansas has a single loss this season, against Michigan State, a Duke opponent on Dec. 6. (The Hogs face Louisville on Dec. 3).
Arkansas, followed by Florida on Dec. 2, unofficially sets up the Blue Devils’ own version of the ACC/SEC Challenge series. The Gators, the defending NCAA champs, come to Cameron having already beaten ACC squads from Florida State and Miami and lost only to Arizona.
Now comes the harder work of matching early-century success. To achieve a 10-win start, Duke would have to come away with wins in those SEC matchups and in its Dec. 6 visit to Michigan State.
As for detecting signs of pending NCAA titles or advancing to the Final Four, there’s been little correlation between Duke’s fast starts and its superlative finishes.
True, three of Duke’s five national championships came in years that began with at least 10 straight victories (1992, 2001, and 2015). But the ’91 title came after a two-win open and the 2010 crown Scheyer helped earn as a player followed a six-win start.
Eight of Duke’s advances to the Final Four, including last year’s, capped seasons in which the Devils started with six or fewer victories.
| FAST OUT OF THE GATE Most Wins In A Row By Duke To Open Season Since Mike Krzyzewski’s Arrival in 1980-81 (Jon Scheyer Since 2023 Season, * Final Four) |
|
|---|---|
| Wins To Open |
Seasons |
| 0 | 2000, 1982 |
| 1 | 2024, 2021, 2014, 1987 |
| 2 | 2025*, 2023, 2022*, 2017, 2016,1995, 1991**, 1983, 1981 |
| 3 | 2004*, 1997, 1990* |
| 4 | 2007, 1996 |
| 5 | 2019, 1999* |
| 6 | 2010**, 1988* |
| 7 | 2020, 2012 |
| 8 | 2009, 1984 |
| 9 | 1998 |
| 10 | 2008, 2001**, 1994*, 1993 |
| 11 | 2018 |
| 12 | 2003, 2002, 1985 |
| 13 | 1989* |
| 14 | 2015** |
| 15 | 2013, 2011, 2005 |
| 16 | 1986* |
| 17 | 2006, 1992** |
| (** NCAA Title) | |
