The echoes of Cameron Indoor are alive again. Duke basketball has officially tipped off practice for the 2025-26 season, and one thing is already clear — this year’s Blue Devils are going to be big, bold, and borderline unstoppable.
After storming to the Final Four a year ago, Jon Scheyer and his squad are back with a burning hunger and a frightening advantage: size. Duke doesn’t just have talent this year; they have length, power, and a roster of towering lineups that could smother opponents from the very first tip to the final buzzer. The question across college basketball is simple: who on earth can stop them?
The Fire From Last Season
Duke’s 2024-25 campaign wasn’t just successful; it was a statement. Jon Scheyer, stepping into his fourth year at the helm, led his team to their first Final Four since taking over from the legendary Coach K. More than just making a run, Duke earned its reputation as one of the most intense and defensively dominant squads in the country.
Defense was their backbone. Hustle was their identity. And grit — the kind of relentless edge that Duke fans love — was the key ingredient that made the Blue Devils a nightmare matchup for everyone they faced.
Now, heading into the new season, Scheyer isn’t interested in nostalgia. He’s focused on one explosive goal: keeping that same fire alive, even with a new cast of players.
Practice Begins With A Warning Shot
On Wednesday, the first official practice of the 2025-26 season got underway in Durham. The message Scheyer delivered to his team was simple yet powerful: last year’s Final Four means nothing now. If you want to write your own legacy, it starts today.
The practice wasn’t just about running plays or working out kinks. It was a showcase of what Duke basketball plans to be this year — tall, long, physical, and relentless.
For fans watching closely, one thing stood out immediately: Duke’s sheer size. This is not a roster that opponents will bully in the paint. Instead, it’s a group that could dominate the boards, clog passing lanes, and swat shots into the stands with ease.
The Towers Of Durham
Duke’s frontcourt this season is absolutely loaded. Scheyer has multiple big men to rotate, each bringing a mix of rim protection, rebounding dominance, and offensive versatility. But what makes Duke especially dangerous isn’t just their height — it’s their ability to stretch the floor.
These bigs aren’t limited to traditional low-post roles. They can shoot, they can switch on defense, and they can run the floor in transition. That kind of versatility makes Duke’s towering lineups unlike anything most opponents will face all season.
Picture this: a lineup featuring multiple 6’10” or 7-footers who can guard multiple positions, block shots, and still hit a jumper when left open. That’s the nightmare scenario Duke will be unleashing this year.
Freshmen With Sky-High Expectations
As always, Duke’s freshmen class enters with enormous hype. The Blue Devils have brought in another group of five-star recruits, and their size and skill fit perfectly into the system Scheyer wants to run.
But here’s the catch: at Duke, it’s never just about talent. It’s about buy-in. Scheyer has made it clear that this year’s newcomers must embrace the defensive backbone that carried last season’s squad to glory. It’s not enough to dazzle fans with dunks or deep threes. To earn minutes, they’ll need to fight for rebounds, dive on loose balls, and defend with the intensity that has become this program’s calling card.
The message to the freshmen is simple: You don’t just play for Duke. You play like Duke.
Veterans Lighting The Way
While the freshmen will grab headlines, it’s the veterans who will set the tone. Players who lived through last season’s grind understand exactly what it takes to reach the Final Four. They know the sacrifice, the commitment, and the level of focus that’s required from day one.
In practice, these veterans are already leading by example. They’re showing the newcomers how to push through drills, how to stay locked in defensively, and how to carry themselves with the swagger that comes with wearing Duke blue.
Cameron Indoor Is Ready To Explode
When Duke takes the court at Cameron Indoor this season, the size and energy of this roster will meet the deafening chaos of the Cameron Crazies. That combination could make home games an almost impossible task for opponents.
The Crazies have seen plenty of talented Duke teams before, but this year feels different. There’s a buzz in Durham that hasn’t been this electric in years. Last season’s Final Four gave fans a taste of what Scheyer can build, and now they want the full feast.
Can Anyone Stop Them?
This is the question echoing across college basketball. Who can match Duke’s size, depth, and intensity? In the ACC, rivals like North Carolina, Virginia, and Miami will try. Nationally, heavyweights like Kansas, Kentucky, and UConn will look to challenge the Blue Devils’ dominance.
But on paper, Duke has the tools to overwhelm almost anyone. Their length allows them to suffocate teams defensively. Their offensive versatility makes them unpredictable. And their balance of veterans and elite freshmen gives them depth most programs can only dream of.
The truth is, Duke may not just be chasing wins this year — they might be chasing history.
The ONE Explosive Goal
When Scheyer spoke to his team at the start of practice, he made it clear: this season’s mission boils down to one thing — keep the fire alive.
It’s not about chasing rankings. It’s not about highlights or NBA draft boards. It’s about replicating the intensity, grit, and defensive edge that turned last year’s squad into Final Four contenders. If this team can match that identity — and maybe even turn the dial up another notch with their size and versatility — the sky isn’t just the limit. The sky might be Duke’s playground.
The Road Ahead
The journey won’t be easy. The ACC schedule is grueling, the non-conference slate will test them early, and every opponent will bring their absolute best against Duke. That’s life when you wear the blue and white — everyone wants to knock you down.
But that challenge is also Duke’s fuel. Scheyer has his team believing that last year wasn’t the peak, but the foundation. Now it’s about building something even bigger.
Final Word: Fear The Towers
As practice begins, one reality is clear: Duke basketball isn’t just back. They’re bigger, stronger, and more dangerous than ever. The Blue Devils have a chance to dominate the college basketball landscape with their size and intensity, and the question everyone is asking — who can stop them? — may not have a satisfying answer.
The fire is burning. The towers are rising. And Duke is ready to storm the season with one mission: keep the fire alive and bring another banner home to Cameron Indoor.
