Duke takes the stage Thursday for its first of two rivalry games against North Carolina, and head coach Mike Krzyzewski arguably has one of the most talented rosters he's ever taken to Chapel Hill.
The Blue Devils, in terms of NBA potential, have the best starting five in college basketball. All five starters could end up as first-round picks. Yet somehow this is a question worth asking: Is Duke a national title contender?
The Blue Devils are not a good defensive team, and history shows us that bad defensive teams do not win national titles. In the KenPom era (dating back to 2002), no champion has finished outside the top 20 in adjusted defensive efficiency.