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    With Kyle Filipowski returning, Duke now consensus odds-on favorite to win 2024 NCAA Tournament

    Filipowski, a standout in his freshman campaign, will again be the centerpiece of the Blue Devils
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    Duke was listed as either favored or one of the main contenders at all the various sportsbooks to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament moments after futures odds were posted following the 2023 title game, won by UConn. However, with the news that star freshman Kyle Filipowski will return to Durham for his sophomore season, the Blue Devils are now consensus favorites to cut down the nets next April and priced +1100 at Caesars Sportsbooks.

    Filipowski was a nine-time ACC Rookie of the Week, a near-unanimous selection as ACC Rookie of the Year, the ACC Tournament MVP and an honorable mention AP All-American this past season. He led the Blue Devils in scoring (15.1), rebounding (8.9) and steals (1.3), while leading all Division I freshmen with 16 double-doubles (the second most in history by a Duke freshman). Filipowski was the only player to start all 36 games for coach Jon Scheyer.

    The 7-footer from New York was expected to be a first-round pick in this summer's draft. With the 2024 draft expected to be a bit weaker, Filipowski could put himself in position to be a top-five pick next year with a huge sophomore season.

    He also is one of the first marketable multiyear Duke players of the NIL era, so Filipowski likely will be making plenty of money as a sophomore as a preseason All-American on a top-three preseason team that might be No. 1. Mark Mitchell and Tyrese Proctor are also returning to Duke, and guard Jeremy Roach is maintaining his eligibility while testing the NBA Draft waters.

    Scheyer could return four starters from a team that won the 2023 ACC Tournament but lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Tennessee. Roach is coming off a career year that saw him average 13.6 points along with 3.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds in a team-leading 33.2 minutes per game.

    Two other very good freshmen from last season, Dereck Lively III and Dariq Whitehead, have declared for the draft and it doesn't appear they will pull out. Whitehead played in 28 games and made seven starts for the Blue Devils, averaging 8.3 points per game while shooting .421 from the field and a team-leading .424 from 3-point range. Lively finished with 82 blocked shots to rank second in the ACC, eighth nationally and lead all Division I freshmen. He earned spots on the ACC All-Freshman Team and ACC All-Defensive Team. The CBS Sports Big Board ranks Whitehead as the No. 16 overall prospect in this year's draft and Lively 24th.

    Because Filipowski is staying put for one more year, top-10 recruit Mackenzie Mgbako requested a release from his letter of intent with Duke. Mgbako is ranked by sister site 247Sports as the No. 2 power forward in the Class of 2023 and No. 7 overall recruit. Mgbako chose Duke over Kentucky, Memphis and Ohio State. Even without Mgbako, Duke welcomes four other top-30 prospects in Jared McCain, Sean Stewart, T.J. Power and Caleb Foster.

    Duke's 2023-24 schedule isn't out yet but we know the Blue Devils will compete in the annual Champions Classic as they usually do, this time facing Michigan State on Nov. 14 in Chicago, and have a home matchup against Pac-12 power Arizona on Nov. 10. CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein has also reported Duke will host in-state Queens on Dec. 29.

    The deadline to declare for the 2023 draft is April 23. UConn is a +1400 second favorite to win it all next year and awaits a decision on whether to turn pro by Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo. Fellow star Jordan Hawkins did declare for the draft. The 2024 Final Four is in Glendale, Ariz.

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    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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