The Blue Devils will require more consistency from their roster behind their standout freshmen.
Cooper Flagg is the largest shining spot in Duke’s basketball program, but recent games have revealed that there are still doubts about the supporting cast, despite the team’s spotless conference record.
Tyrese Proctor, who was projected to be a standout guard for the Blue Devils, has struggled in his junior season, scoring in single digits in four of his previous five games.
Most recently, Proctor scored four points in Duke’s 74-64 victory over NC State and six points in the Blue Devils’ road comeback victory over Wake Forest. In the two games, he shot 3-of-18 from the field and 1-of-9 from three.
A 20-point performance against Boston College looked to be an outlier after a 3-point performance against Notre Dame and a scoreless performance in the win against Miami.
He’s 4-of-28 from the field in those four games and has only had three single-digit scoring games all season – two of which were against mid-major schools in blowout victory – in the first 15 games, so Duke has to get him back on track immediately.
Caleb Foster, Proctor’s returning backcourt running partner, has also been a significant letdown this season, having gone scoreless in Duke’s last two wins.
He has not demonstrated the progress that everyone expected from him this season, as he has gone scoreless in five games this season, compared to only two as a rookie.
Foster has been unplayable in crunch time, spending the majority of the game on the bench in vital moments. Foster, who was expected to be a significant contributor from the outside this season, has made only 30 percent of his tries (15-of-50), compared to 40.6 percent (28-of-69) the previous year.
Duke may no longer be able to rely on Caleb Foster to make a significant contribution this season.
The same is true for freshman Isaiah Evans, who has shown to be an electrifying three-point shooter when given the opportunity.
The same can be said about freshman Isaiah Evans, who has proved to be an amazing 3-point shooter when given the opportunity, but has only played seven minutes in the previous two games and has not scored.
Evans has scored in double figures five times this season when he plays at least ten minutes, and his scoring ability would relieve a lot of pressure on Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
Duke is in perfect control of its destiny for an ACC regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but there are still areas for improvement as the calendar turns to February.
Kon Knueppel breaks Cooper Flagg’s record with a career night in Duke’s basketball victory over Miami.
Durham — Miami interim coach Bill Courtney used three timeouts in the first half against Duke basketball, including two in a minute of play.
The stoppages did not stem the bleeding, as Kon Knueppel and the third-ranked Blue Devils turned on an offensive masterclass, defeating the Hurricanes 89-54 on Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Knueppel scored 18 of his career-high 25 points in the Blue Devils’ (15-2, 7-0 ACC) 50-point first half, which included 16 three-pointers and 24 assists on 33 baskets against the Hurricanes (4-13, 0-6). Khaman Maluach scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Cooper Flagg tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Mason Gillis scored 12 points off the bench to round out the four Blue Devils in double figures.
Duke returns to the road this weekend, visiting Boston College (9-8, 1-5) on Saturday (8 p.m., ACC Network) before a week off. Here are some takeaways from the Blue Devils’ blowout of Miami.
Duke freshman Kon Knueppel has not scored 20 points since the Blue Devils’ season-opening victory over Maine. Knueppel almost scored 20 points in the first half against Miami, scoring 11 of them in the opening seven minutes. He hit four three-pointers in the first half and scored 18 points on his first eight attempts. Knueppel has hit 15 of 30 3-point attempts (50%) in four January games.
Cooper Flagg’s encore included a high number of assists and mistakes after scoring an ACC rookie record 42 points against Notre Dame. Flagg had six assists in the first half but finished with five turnovers, a season high. Still, the 6-foot-9 rookie has 18 assists in the last three games, demonstrating that he is more than just a scorer.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer anticipates Maliq Brown will be sidelined for an extended length of time due to a knee injury, so the Blue Devils will rely on their other bench players to fill in. With Brown warming up on the bench, Purdue transfer Mason Gillis contributed nine points and two assists in the first half. Gillis nailed all three of his 3-point shots and assisted on two consecutive plays. Duke held a 34-8 lead in bench points.
Duke basketball freshman’s brother receives first offer and starts D1 journey.
Family legacies are prevalent in the world of NCAA basketball, and the most recent one comes from the family of a freshman superstar at Duke.
With his first D1 basketball offer this week, the younger brother of Duke Basketball’s rising star has officially begun his own Division I journey. For the young prodigy, who has long been inspired by his sibling’s achievements, this milestone marks the start of what may be a promising career.
The Offer That Puts Everything in Motion
[School Name] recognizes the younger brother’s basketball talent with this offer. Even though he does not have the same amount of national fame as his elder sister, he has shown a wide range of talents and a high basketball IQ in high school competitions. Scouts have been pleased by his leadership talents, which are comparable to those of his elder brother, as well as his defensive reflexes and ability to score at all levels.
A Household of Hoopers
Basketball clearly runs in the family. In his first season, the Duke freshman has already made a mark, earning praise for his elegance, court vision, and game-changing ability. His younger brother has spent countless hours training with him, following in his footsteps and drawing inspiration from his achievements. The two share a close bond, and the Duke freshman often serves as a mentor and role model.
The younger brother’s initial offer reflects the family’s unwavering devotion to the sport as well as his diligence and hard work. Without a question, his upbringing in a competitive atmosphere has honed his abilities and equipped him for the demands of playing collegiately
What Comes Next?
Even while the initial offer is a big step, the younger brother’s journey is probably only getting started. More schools are anticipated to notice his skills as he develops and becomes more well-known. The course of his recruiting will be greatly influenced by how well he does in the forthcoming competitions and during his high school career.
The family is enjoying the occasion for the time being. “The journey starts now—can’t wait to see what’s next for you!” the Duke freshman said on social media, expressing his joy and pleasure in his younger brother’s accomplishment.
One thing is certain as the younger brother enters Division I basketball for the first time: the basketball heritage of the family is just getting started. He has the ability to follow in his sibling’s footsteps and establish himself at the greatest level if he works hard and is determined.
The top-ranked Duke basketball target falls out of the #1 slot.
All three of the recipients of the 2026 Duke basketball offer are still in the top 10.
Brandon McCoy Jr., a 6-foot-4, 170-pound junior guard, was ranked first overall in the 2026 class by On3 and the 247Sports 2026 Composite when he visited the Duke basketball team in early November from St. John Bosco High School (Calif.).
In the composite standings, he remains at the top.
However, McCoy dropped two spots to No. 3 in the On3 rankings this week, so that might soon change. Tyran Stokes, a five-star forward from Notre Dame High School (Calif.), rose to the top, while Christian Collins, a teammate from St. John Bosco, vaulted to No. 2.
To be fair to Brandon McCoy Jr., who has been sidelined for more than a month due to injury, he was offered by Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer in July and has since drawn Blue Devil coaches to his school.
Scheyer and his team are still in the running for the other two high school juniors who received offers from Durham: Jordan Smith Jr., a five-star guard from Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.), and Miikka Muurinen, a five-star forward from Compass Prep (Ariz.).
Muurinen is ranked seventh in the cycle based on the most recent On3 report. Additionally, Smith is ranked No. 8 overall and visited the Blue Devils the same weekend as McCoy.
Duke basketball, the presumptive number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, is treading carefully.
Duke basketball is on track for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but even one misstep could jeopardize its position
The Blue Devils, now 12-2 overall and 4-0 in the ACC following an 89-62 win over SMU on Saturday, remain ranked No. 4 in the latest AP Poll. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi also projects Duke as a No. 1 seed in his Bracketology, alongside Auburn, Tennessee, and Iowa State—the same top four teams in the AP rankings for three consecutive weeks.
Duke’s case for a No. 1 seed is strong. The team is 4-2 in Quadrant 1 games and has not lost outside that category. Additionally, Duke ranks No. 2 overall at KenPom, boasting the ninth-best offensive efficiency and the third-best defensive efficiency. Only Iowa State shares the distinction of being in the top 10 in both categories.
However, the Blue Devils face a unique challenge. While their dominance warrants their spot on the top seed line, the competition in the ACC pales in comparison to other powerhouse conferences like the SEC and Big 12. These leagues, which are projected to send more teams to the NCAA Tournament, provide more Quadrant 1 opportunities, allowing teams to absorb losses without significant damage to their seeding.
In contrast, Duke’s ACC competition is weaker. The next highest ACC team in Lunardi’s predictions is Pittsburgh as a No. 6 seed, with Clemson as a No. 7 and SMU and North Carolina barely making the field. Meanwhile, the SEC is projected to send 12 teams, the Big Ten 11, and the Big 12 eight. This disparity leaves Duke with only four remaining Quadrant 1 games on its schedule, while 10 of its final 17 matchups are against Quadrant 3 or 4 opponents.
A single slip-up against a lower-tier ACC team could knock Duke off the No. 1 seed line, possibly even jeopardizing a No. 2 seed if multiple losses occur. While the Blue Devils have cruised through the ACC thus far, winning by an average margin of 21.8 points, the margin for error is razor-thin.
To secure a No. 1 seed, Duke likely needs to finish no worse than 18-2 in ACC play and win the conference tournament. While this is achievable given their current form, the team must maintain its focus and consistency to navigate the tightrope of their remaining schedule and maintain their place atop the NCAA Tournament projections.
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