Duke Basketball: 5 Reasons We Can't Wait for the Blue Devils' 2015-16 Season

Duke learned on Wednesday that it would be making three appearances on ESPN's Big Monday telecasts, the first part of its 2015-16 ACC schedule that's been revealed. The news brings us one step closer to the end of the offseason and the start of the Blue Devils' quest for a second straight national title.

We now know about half of Duke's schedule, with its 13 nonconference games previously announced and now contests Jan. 18 at home against Syracuse, Jan. 25 at Miami (Florida) and Feb. 8 at home against Louisville. The rest of the ACC slate will get announced in the near future, one of many things Duke fans have to look forward to about the upcoming season.

Here's a look at five other things the Blue Devils' supporters should be anxiously awaiting for 2015-16.

Unveiling the Banner

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

The last time Duke won a national title, in 2010, it held a ceremony to unveil the championship banner prior to the annual Midnight Madness event called Countdown to Craziness. No official plans have been announced for when the Blue Devils will hang their fifth title banner from the rafters at Cameron Indoor Stadium, but when it happens it will no doubt be a raucous celebration.

It will also mark the end of the party and the beginning of working for another championship. It won't be an easy one, since the Blue Devils lost four starters from last year's team and return only 23 percent of their scoring.

Duke hasn't made it past the Sweet 16 in its last two title defense seasons, despite being a No. 1 seed entering the NCAA tournament in both 2002 and 2011.

The Next Great Freshman Class

Andrew Nelles/Associated Press

Brandon Ingram

Gone are three-fourths of the highly rated group of freshmen who spearheaded Duke's title run, but they've been replaced by another stellar class of newcomers.

The six-man class that Mike Krzyzewski signed is one of the largest ever for the program, and 247Sports ranked it as the second-best group in 2015 behind only Kentucky. It's the kind of class that features both star power and depth and one that figures to keep Duke in the hunt for another title as long as the prospects live up to their hype.

Topping the list are a quartet of 5-star signees, all of whom should either start or get significant playing time. Forwards Brandon Ingram and Chase Jeter and guards Luke Kennard and Derryck Thornton all ranked in the top 25 in the 2015 class and have the potential to be as impactful as the outgoing trio Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow were in their lone season.

What Will Grayson Allen Do?

Lance King/Getty Images

Not every Duke freshman from last season was a one-and-done. Grayson Allen had the opportunity to join the others in jumping into the NBA draft after he exploded for huge performances in both Final Four games, but the guard ultimately decided to return to school for a season in which he figures to play a much bigger role.

Allen averaged only 4.4 points and 9.2 minutes per game last season, but against Michigan State and Wisconsin he played 38 combined minutes and scored 25 points. He also had countless floor burns from diving all over the place for loose balls to help spark rallies, playing as if a season's worth of bottled-up time on the bench had led to this effort.

Now Allen will be in line to battle for the starting shooting guard spot, along with junior Matt Jones and freshman Luke Kennard.

Sean Obi's Long-Awaited Debut

Lance King/Getty Images

Duke has only had a handful of transfers over the years, and for the most part they've become relatively valuable players. Sean Obi could be the best of the lot, though, if he's able to provide size, power and defense to a part of the lineup that lost plenty of those attributes.

The 6'9", 265-pound power forward was a Conference USA all-freshman team selection in 2013-14 at Rice, where he averaged 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 59.1 percent. The Owls went through a coaching change, and Obi decided to look elsewhere.

Mike Krzyzewski landed Obi knowing that Jahlil Okafor was almost certain to be a one-year player for the Blue Devils. Okafor was dominant on both ends of the court down low, but Duke will mostly be looking for Obi to be helpful on the defensive end with shot blocking, rebounding and just getting in the way.

The rest of the frontcourt production that went with Okafor figures to be replaced by freshmen Brandon Ingram and Chase Jeter, as well as senior Amile Jefferson.

A Challenge-Filled Schedule

Peyton Williams/Getty Images

We know who Duke will play in 2015-16, just not when some of the games are. But no matter the order of the yet-to-be-announced ACC contests, it's certain the Blue Devils will once again face a tough slate this season.

This begins in the nonconference with a Nov. 17 game against Kentucky at the Champions Classic in Chicago, followed by a meeting with VCU on Nov. 20 in New York City as part of the 2K Classic. The Blue Devils will face either Georgetown or Wisconsin the following night.

Duke also plays Indiana at home on Dec. 2 and Utah on Dec. 19 in New York City, but there are no true nonconference road games on the slate. The first road trip will happen some time in January, and Duke is set to play at Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, NC State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest.

The home ACC schedule features Florida State, Louisville, NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.