Duke’s Weak Spot Exposed: Blue Devils Still Searching for Answers at Key Position After Exhibition Win
Duke’s exhibition victory may have looked convincing on the scoreboard, but beneath the surface, a troubling storyline continues to simmer. Despite the Blue Devils’ overall depth and talent, one glaring weakness remains — and it could define their season if not fixed soon.
The post position, long a source of stability for Duke basketball, has suddenly become its biggest question mark. With the departure of key veterans and an unproven rotation of big men, the Blue Devils struggled to establish a consistent interior presence in their tune-up game. Rebounding lapses, defensive miscommunications, and inefficient scoring around the rim all pointed to a team still searching for a reliable anchor inside.
Head coach Jon Scheyer downplayed the concern afterward, emphasizing that early exhibition games are about learning and adjusting. But even his measured tone couldn’t mask the reality that Duke’s frontcourt looked outmatched at times — not something fans expect from a team with national title aspirations.
Sophomore center Sean Stewart showed flashes of potential, and freshman big man Patrick Ngongba displayed energy off the bench, yet neither commanded the paint in the way Duke desperately needs. Without a dominant interior force, the Blue Devils’ offense risks becoming too perimeter-dependent, putting even more pressure on guards like Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster to create everything.
The good news? It’s still October, and Scheyer has time to tinker. The bad news? The ACC schedule won’t wait, and elite opponents will expose weaknesses even more ruthlessly.
For all of Duke’s firepower and hype, the exhibition made one thing painfully clear — if the Blue Devils don’t solve their post problem soon, March could arrive with more questions than answers.
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