We all know that Duke missed the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, due in large part to some very unusual circumstances. We also know that the last time before 2021 that Duke missed the Big Dance was 1995, another year with some unusual circumstances.
In retrospect Duke’s return to postseason play seemed inevitable.
But it wasn’t such a sure thing at the time.
Mike Krzyzewski was back hale and hearty when the 1995-96 team began practice. But it was a team that was less talented than the 18-loss team that preceded it.
Duke lost three key players from that team to graduation, Eric Meek, Kenny Blakeney and Cherokee Parks.