As Christmas is drawing near, we went out to do some shopping after church yesterday, in part to allow our kids to look at some of the things for which they’ve been asking for Christmas, so that we can get an idea of what the really want. As we were walking into one store, Christmas music was playing. Andy Williams was belting out, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.”

I’ve been thinking the same thing, although Christmas hasn’t been on my mind.

Today, college basketball season begins. For me, today begins the most wonderful time of the year.

As a Duke fan, I’m looking forward to this season more so than the last two. I expected a lot more than the Devils delivered two years ago, and while their tournament play ended a game or two too early last year, overall it was a great year.

This year, I am expecting no less, and probably a bit more.

Last year, with almost no size to speak of inside (especially during Zoubek’s injury), Duke finished 28-6. The ACC regular season title came down to the final game between Duke and Carolina. The two teams had identical records, and the winner would claim the (mythical) regular season title. That would have been a huge accomplishment for the Duke team, esepcially considering Carolina was crowned both ACC and national champion before the season began (the latter being a goal they obviously did not reach.) Still, Duke playing on the final day of the regular season with the opportunity finish ahead of Carolina was still pretty impressive, even though they fell short.

This year, Duke returns with a more experienced and talented team. They lost one player of note - senior Demarcus Nelson. Added this year are three freshmen - forwards Olek Czyz and Miles Plumlee, who will give Duke some more size, and guard Elliot Williams. Brian Zoubek and Marty Pocius are healthy again, although I suspect Pocius still can’t play defense. Duke will have a deeper team, and the team that has been so young the last two years will be a little older and more experienced. Nolan Smith, word has it, will replace Greg Paulus as the starting point guard - a move I predicted last year. Like Jon Scheyer last year, Paulus will be asked to continue to lead while coming off the bench. I think (again, like Scheyer), he will be up to the task. And, Gerald Henderson is healthy as well, which is probably the biggest news of all. Henderson and Kyle Singler will be the stars of this team. Without the wrist injury, Henderson’s outside shooting should be much improved, making him one of the most dangerous players in the country. And I expect Singler, with a little more strength and playing in his true position this year, will really shine.

Carolina is, once again, expected to win the ACC and the national championship. I think Duke, ranked #5 preseason, will certainly give them a run for their money in the ACC, as they did last year, and I believe will also be in position to earn themselves spot in the final four come March. I won’t make any season record prediction because I haven’t studied the schedule enough to make that yet. And, as usual, I’ll wait until the ACC season nears before making an ACC prediction.

But regardless, I expect another very good season for the Blue Devils, who tip off tonight at home vs Presbyterian. Last year I expected Sweet 16 at a minimun. This year I would expect elite 8 minimum, and am very optimistic that they could finally return to the final four. There have only been two classes at Duke since Krzyzewski’s first all-star class (1983’s Dawkins-Alarie-Henderson-Bilas class) that did not play in a final four - the freshman classes of 1995 (Wojo’s class) and 2005 (last year’s seniors). I don’t want their to be a third this year.

But it all starts tonight.

And in a gym somewhere in Florida, Dick Vitale is going bananas.

The most wonderful time of the year, indeed.

Go Duke!