Ranking Projects Three-Guard Duke Basketball Starting Lineup

Jon Scheyer will have several options when naming Duke basketball starters.

Even without a proven rim-protecting big man, the 2023-24 Duke basketball roster is stocked enough to sit at No. 1 in most preseason national rankings. That includes Sunday's updated top 45 courtesy of CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein.

Although the Blue Devils might still add a long-limbed center worthy of a starting nod via the transfer portal, it's tough to argue with the projected starting five that Rothstein included in his ranking, given the current makeup of next season's squad in Durham.

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Here are the starters that Rothstein foresees, with the assumption that Jeremy Roach will withdraw his name from the NBA Draft and return for a senior campaign:

• Sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor
• Senior guard Jeremy Roach
• Freshman guard Jared McCain
• Sophomore forward Mark Mitchell
• Sophomore forward Kyle Filipowski (Rothstein lists him as a center)

The potential bench contributors in this scenario would be freshman guard Caleb Foster, sophomore guard Jaden Schutt, junior guard Jaylen Blakes, freshman forward Sean Stewart, freshman forward TJ Power, sophomore center Christian Reeves, and graduate center Ryan Young.

Should second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff snag a talented transfer at the five-spot, Filipowski would presumably move to the four with Mitchell at the three. Then assuming Roach returns, it'll be interesting to see whether he or McCain would remain in the starting backcourt (Foster is another candidate).

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No matter what happens with the finishing touches to Duke's roster construction, it seems like a safe bet that Proctor, Mitchell, and Filipowski will be starters. The other two starters are a question mark.

Meanwhile, Rothstein has two ACC teams in his top 10, with Miami being the other at No. 8. But the Blue Devils and Hurricanes are the only two appearing in his top 25. He ranks UNC at No. 29 and Virginia at No. 30, and no other teams from the conference are in his top 45.

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