The Devil's Den: A Duke Athletics Podcast

Josh, Dustin, and Raul are joined by Brian Geisinger, writer for 247Sports and cohost of the Buzz Beat Podcast. First they discuss the recent NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, which saw them selecting former Duke players Kon Knueppel and Sion James. Topics include: Knueppel leading Charlotte to its first ever Summer League Championship Whether the completeness of Knueppel's game is properly appreciated by the national media What role Knueppel will have in Charlotte's deep guard rotation How Knueppel will function as a playmaker without a true lob threat Sion James' need to be more aggressive on offense in order to stick in the rotation Then they turn their attention to Jordan Smith Jr., the #2 prospect in the 2026 class. What qualities would Smith Jr. bring to Duke if they were to land him? Is he deserving of the #2 ranking? Is his best offensive role as an on-ball creator or off ball? How would he pair with Cayden Boozer if Boozer were to return? How does Smith Jr. fit into Jon Scheyer's defensive scheme? Who is his best player comp? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff Goodman, longtime college basketball analyst and founder of The Field of 68, is back on the pod for the third straight summer. Topics discussed include: Whether Duke could have used a true point in tight moments last season The lessons Jon Scheyer took from the loss to Houston The job Scheyer has done reassembling the roster The importance of landing Dame Sarr after losing Cedric Coward to the draft How Sarr will adjust from international play The Boozer twins as consummate winners Cameron Boozer as a model of consistent production Cayden Boozer as a decision maker and organizer Whether Scheyer should give the ball to Cayden from day one Caleb Foster's role if he's not on the ball How impressive it was that Duke was able to retain Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans Why Goodman thinks Duke is underrated nationally How the field compares to last season Jordan Smith as a prospect, and the relative weakness of the 2026 class To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul start the episode by discussing Duke's recent open practice. Raul was in attendance and gives his observations on the three eight-minute scrimmages Duke played. They discuss the battle for starting point guard between Cayden Boozer and Caleb Foster, the improvements of Darren Harris, and how the offense looked different from last year now that Duke's best weapons are in the frontcourt. After that, they dive into the frontcourt itself, taking an in-depth look at the trio of Cameron Boozer, Patrick Ngongba, and Maliq Brown. Topics discussed include: Cameron Boozer's winning pedigree Whether comparing Cameron Boozer to Paolo Banchero is accurate, and how the two players differ What an expanded role for Patrick Ngongba might look like How Boozer and Ngongba will function together defensively Patrick Ngongba showcasing a new pick-and-pop game How injuries derailed Maliq Brown's season Why Brown might be best in an off-the-bench role The need for Brown to be more aggressive as a scorer Whether this is the best passing frontcourt in DMBB history, and how that will shape the offense They also pick over/unders for each player including rebounds per game for Boozer, assists per game for Ngongba, and steals per game for Brown. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul are joined by John Watson of thedevilsden.com and Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer. Topics discussed include: Lessons learned from last year's historic season The way last year's team was able to value possessions, not turn the ball over, and get a good shot every time down the floor The impact of having multiple ball handlers and decision makers on the floor at all times The personality of next year's team, their developing chemistry, and who will fill the leadership void What Caleb Foster's decision to stick with Duke means to Coach Scheyer and the program The conversations Scheyer has had with Isaiah Evans over the offseason Having multiple big men who can facilitate What Dame Sarr can bring to the program due to his experience playing in Liga ACB How Duke was able to pivot so quickly to Sarr after Cedric Coward chose to stay in the draft The new coaching hires, Evan Bradds and Tyler Thornton How bringing in a coach from the NBA helps Duke stay ahead of the curve The difficulties of navigating the transfer portal on a compressed timeline How Coach Scheyer's staff helped him rebuild the roster amidst so many departures The qualities Duke looks for when scouting player The Motherhood and Fatherhood After the interview, Josh, Dustin, Raul, and John spend some time dissecting and reacting to Coach Scheyer's answers. They also talk about recruiting strategies going forward and what the 2026 class might look like. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul talk a bit about NBA Summer League before continuing their deep dive into the 2025-26 roster. This episode covers Sebastian Wilkins, Nikolas Khamenia, Dame Sarr, and Darren Harris. Topics include: Wilkins' path to playing more than expected as a do-everything forward The skillset Wilkins has shown in summer scrimmage footage Nikolas's Khamenia's impressive resume with Team USA Khamenia as a passer and shooter Avoiding unfair comparisons between Khamenia and other recent hyped recruits like Jared McCain and Kon Knueppel Dame Sarr's international experience against NBA veterans The strong finish Sarr had to his most recent season with Barcelona Questions surrounding his FT shooting and passing The competitive energy Sarr brings Darren Harris's path to more playing time as a sophomore Whether he can replicate Isaiah Evans' role last year The importance of pure shooters on next year's team They also pick various over/unders for each player as well as give each player a skill from the other three. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Duke sharpshooter and 2010 national champion Andre Dawkins makes his second appearance on the podcast. Topics discussed include: Andre's new position as head coach at Charlottesville High School in Charlottesville, VA How much he is able to stay in touch with old teammates and coaches as well as follow the Duke program The job Jon Scheyer has done as coach over his first three seasons His thoughts on the Tyler Thornton hire How coaching has changed the way he watches Duke games Isaiah Evans' role as a sharpshooter off the bench last year How a shooter stays ready to contribute with fluctuating minutes How a coach gets a talented player to embrace a limited role Andre's thoughts on the roster for the upcoming season The importance of the development of the returning players Andre's views on the criteria for jersey retirement at Duke Whether he agrees with the idea that he has the prettiest jump shot in Duke basketball history To help the Charlottesville Black Knights buy new jerseys and practice equipment, you can donate at the following link: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=ZJ339BVY345RW. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul begin their deep dive into the 2025-26 Men's Basketball roster. This episode is the first of three and covers Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and Isaiah Evans. Topics discussed include: Justin Robinson's departure from Duke for the Los Angeles Lakers Why the high turnover for Scheyer's staff is actually a positive Caleb Foster's difficult 2nd season The progress Foster showed at the end of the season His struggles finishing at the rim and whether he might benefit from an in-between game How much he will play on ball this upcoming season Cayden Boozer as Duke's first pure point guard since Tre Jones The value of having a high-level decision maker late in games Questions surrounding his jump shot, both with the form and volume of attempts Isaiah Evans' historic combination of 3pt volume and accuracy The need for Evans to diversify his game by upping his rim attempts and increasing his assist rate How Evans can play off a frontcourt full of excellent playmakers They also do over/unders for each player and give each player a skill from one of the other two that will best maximize their game. Lastly, they touch on Nik Khamenia's solid showing with Team USA's U19 team, helping lead them to a gold medal in a key bench role. Please also visit https://www.youtube.com/@TheDevilsDen247 and subscribe to view video versions of each episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Download Inside College Basketball Now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein is your courtside seat to the inner workings of the sport. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul react to an NBA draft which saw all five Duke starters drafted in the top 50. Topics discussed include: The way Cooper Flagg handled the draft process Flagg's positional fit in Dallas Kon Knueppel's meteoric rise over the course of the season Knueppel's fit alongside LaMelo Ball Charlotte's lack of a lob threat after trading Mark Williams Khaman Maluach's emotional reaction to being drafted 10th Maluach's role in Phoenix after Phoenix traded for Mark Williams Sion James being selected 33rd by Charlotte How James' year at Duke boosted his stock Whether James will crack the main rotation Tyrese Proctor being drafted 49th by Cleveland What it means for Proctor to have avoided slipping out of the draft Finally, they finish by discussing Jon Scheyer as a talent evaluator. What does the rise of players like Knueppel and Jared McCain, as well as the fact that Cedric Coward was drafted #11, say about Scheyer's scouting abilities? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Raul talk with Brian Geisinger of 247Sports and the Buzz Beat podcast about the five Duke players eligible to be drafted in the 2025 NBA draft. Topics discussed include: Cooper Flagg's fit with Dallas Does Dallas wanting to win now help or hinder Cooper's development Best fits for Khaman Maluach Whether Charlotte might draft Maluach if they move on from Mark Williams Maluach's NBA ceiling Why Kon Knueppel fits on almost NBA team How much Knueppel will do off the dribble in the NBA Whether Tyrese Proctor will fall out of the draft Sion James' potential to go higher than projected To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul celebrate their 200th episode as hosts of The Devil's Den Podcast by reflecting on the last four seasons since they took over hosting duties. Topics discussed include: Coach K announcing that 2022 would be his final season Standout moments from Duke's 2022 Final Four run Jon Scheyer taking over the program for the 2022-23 season The gradual growth of the team throughout that season, culminating with 10 straight wins and an ACC title Returning almost every player for the 2023-24 season, and the high expectations that came with that Making the Elite Eight in Scheyer's second season Losing almost the entire roster in the 2024 offseason The historic dominance of the 2024-25 team Optimism for the future under Jon Scheyer After this retrospective, they reflect on their time as hosts and what it has meant to them personally. They talk about getting to sit on press row and interview players in the locker room. They also discuss their favorite guests they've had on the show and dream guests they'd love to have on in the future. You can now also watch video of the podcast episodes at https://www.youtube.com/@TheDevilsDen247. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul break down the latest news surrounding Duke Basketball. First, they discuss the hiring of Tyler Thornton to the coaching staff. They speculate about what role he might play on the staff and talk about what he brings to the table as a coach and personality. Next, they look at the ACC schedule after the ACC announced Duke's matchups for the upcoming season. They talk about the benefits of an 18-game schedule and circle the games they're most looking forward to. In the second half of the episode, they each draft a six-man team of players from the 2020s. They discuss how the 2020s players compare to the 2010s and debate who had the best team. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul start the episode with a discussion of the latest additions to the Duke roster, Dame Sarr and Sebastian Wilkins. They debate how these player will help replace the loss of portal commit Cedric Coward to the NBA draft. Then they take a suggestion by a listener and each try to draft the best possible team using only Duke players from the 2010s. They finish by analyzing how their teams match up and how the pool of players from the 2010s stack up against the best Duke teams of other decades. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh, Dustin, and Raul are joined by John Watson of thedevilsden.com to discuss all the latest roster and recruiting news. Topics discussed include: Cedric Coward's likely decision to remain in the NBA Draft Duke's pivot to Dame Sarr The value Sarr's experience in international play Player comparisons for Sarr The role he might fill at Duke The personality and play-style of next year's roster, and how it might differ from the 2024-25 team Shooting and ball-handling on next year's team Sebastian Wilkins' recruitment The role that Wilkins might fill as a fourth post player Whether Wilkins has any wing skills Why Duke pivoted from Braydon Hawthorne The challenges Duke faces in the portal given the number of high school players they bring in Why Duke prefers to bank on talent level and continuity over assembling solely from the portal How other teams use Duke's talent level to negatively recruit against Duke Things to look out for this summer on the podcast and on the website [Note: this episode was recorded before Dame Sarr announced his official commitment to Duke.] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh and Raul are joined by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report and the Hardwood Knocks podcast to talk about Duke players currently making headlines in the NBA. Topics discussed include: The Dallas Mavericks improbably landing the #1 pick in the 2025 draft Cooper Flagg's fit on the current Mavericks roster Whether Dallas will trade a big man to clear out minutes in the crowded frontcourt Jared McCain having a very promising rookie season despite it being cut short by injuries McCain's fit with Tyrese Maxey in an undersized backcourt Kyle Filipowski possibly having the best offensive season of any NBA rookie Filipowski's longterm fit with Utah's glut of forwards Paolo Banchero's ceiling Orlando's need to surround Banchero with better spacing to maximize his efficiency Whether the new front office in New Orleans will or should trade Zion Williamson Potential contenders that could benefit from Williamson's skillset as well as manage his absences Jayson Tatum's devastating Achilles' injury What kind of player Tatum might be once he returns Where Boston goes from here with Tatum out for the season Some random last-minute Charlotte Hornets talk You can follow Dan Twitter @danfavale or Bluesky @danfavale.bksy.social. You can find the Hardwood Knocks podcast on all major podcast streaming apps as well as at https://www.youtube.com/@HardwoodKnocksNBA. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices