By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

We are right smack in the middle of football season. We’re about to head into the final month of the college season when teams will be scratching and clawing their way to see who will lose to Alabama in the playoffs.

The NFL season is almost halfway finished and the only thing I’ve learned is that if I write about a team or player one week, their fortune seems to change to very next. (Question whether or not Matt Ryan was worth the number 3 pick; he puts up MVP numbers including over 500 yards against my Panthers. Mention how awful the Dolphins have been for the past decade or so; Miami hasn’t lost since).

So, it would make complete sense for me to spend this time writing about, college basketball? And to make matters worse, not only am I planning on talking about college basketball, but the subject is Duke basketball.

Normally I’m a little hesitant to talk about upcoming seasons and what my expectations are for the Blue Devils. When I do decide to write about them I try to be as objective as I can, fully admitting I’m not always successful in that endeavor. This upcoming season seems to have a little different feel than in the past.

Barring any unforeseen, serious injuries, this may be one the most talented groups in Krzyzewski’s time in Durham, and that is saying a lot. For starters, they return 5th year senior, Amile Jefferson, whose leadership role will be very reminiscent of Quinn Cook’s two years ago.

You have outside shooter, Luke Kennard, who showed glimpses last year of what he can become, as well as Matt Jones, who is the best on the ball defender Duke has. And who can forget the next great Duke player that everyone loves to hate, Grayson Allen, assuming he hasn’t already reached that mountain top.

What makes Duke so dangerous though, is while Allen is a legitimate player of the year candidate, he may not even be the best player on them team. In fact, he may not even be the second best.

Pairing players like Frank Jackson, Javin DeLaurier, and Marques Bolden, all three 5 star recruits, to Duke’s returning squad would be enough to make them a title contender this season. But, when you throw in the top 2 players in this year’s class, Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum, it’s almost unfair how much talent Krzyzewski will be able to put on the court at any point during a game.

Tatum is going to be tough for opponents to handle and may lead the team in scoring by years end. Giles will miss the first couple weeks of the season with some knee issues, but if he can come back healthy, he may be the best collegiate player in the country.

The one big question mark will be their point guard play. The Devils have a lot of guys that can handle the ball, but no one with the court vision and passing ability of a Tyus Jones, from two years ago.

Duke is athletic, experienced, tall (they can run out a lineup where Allen at 6’5 will be the shortest on the court) and are extremely talented. It’s early, but comparisons to the Kentucky team with Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd Gilchrist are not that far off.

This team is primed for a national championship run and to be completely honest, anything less than Final Four would be a disappointment. The fact I’m going on record with this now tells you all you need to know.