Duke bounced back after its defeat to Clemson with a dominant 78-57 victory against Cal. The Blue Zone breaks down the factors that led to Duke’s success in our latest edition of And one:
One player: Tyrese Proctor
On a Duke team loaded with first-round talent, Tyrese Proctor has played his way into those same conversations. Against Cal, the Australian guard again displayed his vastly-improved 3-point shot — converting on three of his six attempts in an 18-point effort. Proctor’s ability to provide spacing and rugged defense makes him a near-seamless fit into any lineup head coach Jon Scheyer throws onto the court. Going back to the Blue Devils’ rivalry matchup with North Carolina, Proctor has averaged 18.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists across four games in what has easily been his best stretch of the season. With as many mouths to feed as Duke has, the junior's production has seen some fluctuations, yet there is no doubting the impact and leadership he brings.
In ESPN’s most recent NBA mock draft, insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo projected the Blue Devil to be selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 40th overall pick — hypothetically reuniting Proctor and fan favorite Jared McCain. However, if the guard continues his standout play come March, he may hear his name called far earlier than that.
One word: Bounceback
After a heartbreaking loss at Clemson that snapped a 16-game winning streak, Scheyer’s squad needed to get back on track. They had been burned by the Tigers’ bruising physicality in the paint, so much so that even shooting 12-of-24 from distance could not secure a Duke victory. In the comforts of Cameron Indoor Stadium, however, that wasn’t the case.
Within the Blue Devils’ first three possessions, they snatched two offensive rebounds which they converted for four second-chance points. Even though the Golden Bears did not lack size or muscle in their front court, Duke’s physical advantage was apparent throughout the course of the game, as freshman Khaman Maluach towered over defenders and defensive engine Maliq Brown followed Cal guards step-for-step on the perimeter. Unlike against Clemson, the Blue Devil lead was never in doubt — a nice return to form for the No. 3 ranked team in the country.
One stat: 9-of-9 Cooper Flagg free throws
It’s safe to say that even with the lofty expectations as the NBA’s projected No. 1 overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg has exceeded them all in his first, and most likely only, year at Duke. While his defense, athleticism and general scoring prowess have been exactly as advertised, perhaps what has been most surprising is his production from the free throw line. For the season, Flagg has made 81.4% of his attempts from the charity stripe — the fourth-highest mark on the team.
This production has catalyzed Flagg’s emergence as a bona-fide scorer. When opponents cannot match the freshman’s speed and force on drives and down low, they cannot resort to instinctively hacking the Newport, Maine native. Against the Golden Bears, this growth was on display, as nearly every Flagg drive resulted in at least two points for the Blue Devils. Although Duke didn’t necessarily need it facing Cal, Flagg’s free-throw production is yet another weapon for one of the ACC’s best offenses.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.