University of Duke Men's Basketball

Taking A Look At The Past

When you hear Duke, you immediately think of the word "basketball". This is because they're amongst college basketballs best. A school in the top 5 all-time in victories. A team winning a national championship nearly 25% of the time when being invited to the NCAA Tournament. A team that has won just under 10 National Player of the Year awards.

Duke has also have quite a few players drafted in the NBA. A total of 71 to be exact. This places them at the top of college basketball for former college players on NBA rosters. Can you believe that any school in today's times would have the same head coach for 3 decades?

They have won 19 regular season ACC championships. And, not to be outdone, 18 ACC tournament championships as well. Duke is ranked #2 all time for being ranked as the #1 team only trailing UCLA in that category.

Can you believe a total of 55 college All-Americans in the history? A school known for bringing in smart kids also has 14 prior Academic All-Americans which shouldn't surprise. Out of the 30 years under Mike Krzyewski, they have been to the NCAA tournament 26 of those seasons. Out of those 26 seasons, a total of 19 visits to the Sweet Sixteen as well.

Duke has been a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament a whopping eleven times. Winning 30 or more games a total of eleven different times. Out of 1,015 games under Krzyewski, the won a whopping 795 of them. Only losing a grand total of 220 of those games games played. Under his reign, Duke has claimed a national title about once of every 7.5 years including the most recent 2010 campaign.

Previous Hoop Superstars

Blue Devil fans have been watching some pretty solid basketball players over the years. Several players(9) that have claimed the award for being the best player in college basketball. From a PG nearly 60 years ago to another sharp shooting guard a short time ago. The first two came eleven years apart.

Johnny Dawkins waited 23 more years before giving Duke another Player of the Year. It was only three years later before Danny Ferry staked claim to the next one. Another three years & Christian Laettner was named to this title. 7 more years followed before Elton Brand said let me have it. Only two years passed before Shane Battier won the award. The very next season Jason(Jay) Williams, a teammate of Battier, claimed the honors. Five years ago a 3-pt bomber in J.J. Redick won the award.

2 years later when Elton Brand claimed the award for the sixth time. The seventh award went to Shane Battier & only 2 years later. The very next campaign & another award winner in Jay Williams. The ninth & final award went to J.J. Redick only 5 years ago.

Laettner played at Duke from 1989-1992. Laettner is known in NCAA Tournament history for hitting the game-winning buzzer beater against Kentucky back in 1992. This game-winning shot gave Duke the East tournament finals & propelled them into the Final Four. He holds NCAA Tournament records for scoring, free throws made, free throws attempted, & most games played.

He is also currently the all-time Duke leader in 3-pt percentage at 48.5%. Laettner is also one of only four players to have played in 4 straight Final Fours. However, he's the only one to have started in all Final Fours.