The Duke Blue Devils, entering their March 23, 2025, NCAA Tournament matchup against the Baylor Bears as the top seed with a 32-3 record, have epitomized excellence and dominance throughout the season, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in college basketball. Under the astute leadership of head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke has seamlessly blended experienced upperclassmen with a talented freshman class, creating a cohesive unit that excels on both ends of the court. Central to their success is freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, whose recent return from a sprained left ankle has reinvigorated the team. Flagg’s performance in the first-round victory over Mount St. Mary’s, where he contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in just 22 minutes, underscored his versatility and resilience, alleviating concerns about his health and reaffirming his pivotal role in Duke’s championship aspirations. Flagg’s ability to stretch defenses with his shooting, coupled with his defensive acumen, makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents. Complement Complementing Cooper Flagg’s brilliance are veteran leaders like Jeremy Roach and Tyrese Proctor, who anchor the backcourt with poise, shot creation, and perimeter defense that has frustrated opposing guards throughout the season, while players like Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski provide interior toughness and scoring versatility that allows Duke to operate efficiently in both transition and half-court sets. Head coach Jon Scheyer has successfully implemented an offensive system that emphasizes spacing, tempo, and ball movement, leading to Duke ranking among the top 10 nationally in offensive efficiency, averaging over 82 points per game while shooting a remarkable percentage from both beyond the arc and the free throw line.

Defensively, the Blue Devils are equally imposing, with their ability to switch on screens, protect the rim, and close out on shooters, making them one of the most balanced two-way teams in the nation—opponents are held to under 65 points per contest on average, a testament to the discipline and length that Duke applies to every possession. Against Baylor, Duke will seek to impose their will early by exploiting mismatches, using Flagg’s versatility to stretch the Bears’ frontcourt and create open looks for shooters like Jared McCain and Roach, while also ensuring a strong interior presence through Filipowski and Mitchell, who can attack the paint or crash the offensive glass for second-chance points. The key to Duke’s continued dominance will be maintaining defensive intensity and avoiding lapses that allowed weaker teams to briefly hang around during portions of the regular season. In March, however, Duke has consistently shown its pedigree, and their opening-round demolition of Mount St. Mary’s served as a statement that this team is focused, healthy, and prepared for a deep run. The home-court atmosphere at the Lenovo Center adds to the advantage, as the crowd energizes this young but fearless squad with tournament-tested leadership and rising star power. If Duke can control the pace, limit turnovers, and force Baylor into contested shots, they should find themselves comfortably advancing to the Sweet 16. Moreover, Scheyer’s growth as a coach in his second full season has become increasingly evident—his rotation management, late-game adjustments, and command of Duke’s identity have solidified him as one of the nation’s rising sideline tacticians. With the rare combination of elite freshman talent, veteran experience, and coaching savvy, the Blue Devils are poised not only to dispatch Baylor but to make a legitimate push toward another national title, continuing the legacy of excellence that defines the program in March. Every player understands their role, and the chemistry cultivated over the past five months has made Duke a juggernaut few teams want to face. As they prepare for Baylor’s physicality and defensive schemes, Duke will rely on its superior shot-making, disciplined defense, and mental toughness to weather any early storm and methodically dismantle a Bears team that—while gritty—lacks the firepower and depth to match Duke for 40 minutes if the Blue Devils execute to their standard.