2017 NCAA Title Odds
Mike Krzyzewski’s current priority consists of guiding the U.S. men’s national team to gold at the Rio Games. Soon enough, though, the iconic coach’s focus will return to Durham.
As college hoops season inches ever closer, Krzyzewski’s Duke program remains handicappers’ clear favorite to win it all in 2016-17. Online sports book Bovada gives the Blue Devils odds of +450 to capture next season’s national title. In fact, only one other ACC rival – North Carolina (+1200) – is viewed as being remotely comparable to Cameron Indoor’s finest.
Last year, Krzyzewski’s group was ousted by Oregon in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament, bringing an up-and-down campaign to an end. Duke finished the regular season 23-10, but that only yielded a fifth-place position in the conference standings and an at-large berth in the Big Dance. Even though Brandon Ingram frequently produced phenomenal individual performance, the team concept occasionally suffered.
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That shouldn’t be an issue this time around. Coach K boasts a bevy of returning talent to accompany an absurdly good freshman class. All-ACC selection Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard and Matt Jones represent the veteran stalwarts on the perimeter. Down in the post, Amile Jefferson is as sturdy as they come.
What should really excite the fan base, though, is the wealth of talent among the incoming recruits. Power forward Harry Giles could be the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA draft, and St. Louis native Jayson Tatum’s a dynamic wing presence. Frank Jackson may evolve into a floor general sooner rather than later, too, while the Blue Devils nabbed an unexpected May surprise in the form of Texas prep sensation Marques Bolden.
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The Dookies open their schedule on Nov. 11 against Grand Canyon. Non-conference tests will come from Kansas, Michigan State and Florida. At the end of the day, though, the Blue Devils’ greatest competition could be themselves.