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Following a pair of preseason matchups, the Duke basketball team has emerged as one of the nation's elite programs, living up to the lofty expectations placed upon it. Although the sample size is small, the Blue Devils have been nothing short of impressive, surpassing the 100-point mark in both exhibitions and dominating for the full 40 minutes in each contest. Duke appears to have the makings of the country's best defensive unit, and its wealth of offensive weapons is evident.
Below, we break down three key areas where the Blue Devils have already shown marked improvement from last season.
Three-Point Shooting
In 2025-26, Duke had the personnel to be a strong three-point shooting team, but that potential never materialized. The Blue Devils ranked 132nd nationally in three-point percentage (34.7), per KenPom. Through two exhibition games, the perimeter has become the area where Duke could make the biggest statistical leap. Against Belmont on Oct. 8, the Blue Devils connected on 11-of-25 (44%) from beyond the arc, with seven different players hitting a triple. Against Tennessee, they shot 12-of-33 (36.4%) from deep, again with seven players making at least one three. Offensively, Duke took what the defense gave and knocked down clean looks at a high rate, avoiding forced shots.
Free-Throw Shooting
The charity stripe was a glaring weakness for the Blue Devils last season, as they ranked 175th nationally in free-throw percentage (72.9) according to KenPom. Through two preseason games, Duke has been highly efficient from the line. Against UCLA, the Blue Devils went 23-of-27 (85.2%), and against Tennessee, they shot 19-of-21 (90.5%). Not only are they converting at a high clip, but they are also getting to the line frequently. Last season, Duke derived 19.7% of its total points from free throws (180th nationally) and ranked 100th in free-throw attempts per game (22.1). Missed opportunities at the line cost the Blue Devils at times, but they have both generated attempts and knocked them down in the preseason.
Forcing Turnovers
This is not to suggest Duke wasn't an elite defensive team last season. The Blue Devils ranked third nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom and have finished in the top five in each of the past two years. However, they didn't force turnovers at a high rate in 2025-26, ranking 132nd nationally in defensive turnover percentage (17.3). In the preseason, Duke turned 13 Tennessee turnovers into 15 points and forced 17 turnovers against Belmont, converting them into 20 points. This Duke team looks special defensively, but its ability to score off turnovers appears vastly improved.
Hugh Straine is an accomplished writer and proud Bucknell University alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. He has served as editor of The Bucknellian, worked as an analyst for ESPN+ and Hulu, and currently reports on college sports as a general reporter for On SI. Follow HughStraine.