Roundball chatter: This Duke team is loaded

Each week, I'll write about the sport I love: college basketball.

• Hey, no doubt in my mind that Duke will be the absolutely unanimous preseason No. 1 . The Blue Devils are loaded. This could be on paper one of the best teams that Duke has ever had. Think about what they have coming back: Grayson Allen will a star of stars, an absolute scoring machine. Amile Jefferson, coming back from his injury, gives them size on the interior and a rebounder deluxe, especially on the offensive glass. Then you factor in Luke Kennard, who I firmly believe is going to have a super sophomore year. Yes, keep an eye on Mr. Kennard. Plus, you have a veteran in Matt Jones. And Chase Jeter is going to be an improved player. Now, throw in the best recruiting class that Duke has possibly ever had. Marques Bolden gives them what they needed so badly, a post presence. Then you factor in maybe the best player in the country in Harry Giles, who is coming back from injury but is expected to be ready to go. And Jayson Tatum, who was rated in the top three in America in every poll. What a class. Now, the bottom line is you have to win it on the floor, but going into the season Mike Krzyzewski's Blue Devils are flat-out loaded.

• There was certainly celebrating on Maryland's campus when word came back last week that guard Melo Trimble was coming back for another year instead of going to the NBA. You better believe that coach Mark Turgeon is excited over the news.

• There's also smiles down in Badger country because Nigel Hayes is coming back and will wear a Wisconsin uniform again this year.

• North Carolina is jumping with joy because the Tar Heels got some good news, too, with Kennedy Meeks and Justin Jackson both deciding to return to Chapel Hill. Something tells me Jackson is going to have a big, big year.

• Watch out, Arizona. The Pac-12 is loaded, baby. So the Wildcats better be careful, because of all those teams with all that talent. So Arizona better watch out for all those teams in the Pac-12, especially Oregon, since the Ducks have Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey and Chris Boucher back on campus instead of in the NBA draft.

• I'm really happy to see that Reggie Witherspoon is coming back to the Buffalo area to coach Canisius. Real happy to see that Reggie Withersppon coming back to Buffalo coming back to coach Canisus. He replaces Jim Barron, who retired in May. Reggie will do outstanding job, just as he did when he coached Buffalo for 13 seasons.