Duke Basketball: Blue Devils Roll On Despite Adversity – Latest Updates

 Duke Basketball: Blue Devils Roll On Despite Adversity – Latest Updates

Durham, NC, March 4, 2025 – The No. 2-ranked Duke Blue Devils continue to dominate the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as the regular season nears its close, showcasing resilience and depth amid injuries and challenges. With a 26-3 overall record and a commanding 17-1 mark in ACC play, Duke is poised to secure the top seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. Here’s the latest on the Blue Devils as they prepare for their final home game of the season against Wake Forest tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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Flagg Shines, But Depth Steals the Show in Blowout Win

Duke’s most recent outing, a 97-60 thrashing of the Miami Hurricanes on February 25, underscored their ability to adapt under pressure. Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, widely regarded as the top player in college basketball, delivered a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds before sitting out the final six minutes of the rout. However, the bigger story was the team’s performance without two key starters: junior guard Tyrese Proctor and junior forward Maliq Brown.

Proctor, averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting a career-best 40.8% from three, suffered a left knee injury late in the first half against Miami. Diagnosed with a bone bruise, he was ruled out for the remainder of that game but avoided structural damage. Coach Jon Scheyer provided an optimistic update on March 1, suggesting Proctor could return as early as next week, potentially for the regular-season finale against Louisville on March 8. Meanwhile, Brown remains out indefinitely with a dislocated shoulder, further testing Duke’s roster depth.

Stepping up in their absence, freshman Isaiah Evans has emerged as a revelation. Against Florida State on March 1, Evans made his first career start, dropping 19 points, including 6-of-17 from the field, in a 103-65 rout. Scheyer praised Evans’ growth, calling him a “two-way, big-time wing” whose defensive tenacity and scoring ability have added a new dimension to the team. Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with fans noting Duke’s ability to lead by nearly 20 against the tall Seminoles despite missing key players and Flagg exiting early due to an eye poke.

Knueppel’s Shooting Prowess Fuels ACC Dominance

Another freshman, Kon Knueppel, has quietly become one of the ACC’s deadliest shooters. The Duke Men’s Basketball X account highlighted his stats on March 2: 14.4 points per game, a 41.7% three-point shooting percentage (leading the ACC), and an 89.1% free-throw clip. Knueppel’s sharpshooting was on display against Miami, where he and Evans helped Duke overcome an early 0-for-6 slump from beyond the arc by hitting their last three attempts, as noted by Rodd Baxley on X. His versatility shone against Florida State, where he logged point guard minutes without a single first-half turnover, per CBSSports.com.

Final Home Stand Against Wake Forest

Tonight, Duke hosts Wake Forest (18-11, 10-8 ACC) in their Cameron Indoor finale at 7:00 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN. The Blue Devils crushed the Demon Deacons 85-50 on January 13 and are favored by 14.5 points in the latest odds. A win would clinch a perfect 17-0 home record for the season—a fitting sendoff for a roster likely to lose much of its starting five to the NBA. Flagg, Knueppel, and center Khaman Maluach are projected as lottery picks in ESPN’s latest 2025 mock draft, while graduate guard Sion James exhausts his eligibility.

Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes has lauded Flagg, who’s earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors a record 11 times this season. But Duke’s “next-man-up mentality,” as described by CBSSports.com, ensures they remain a juggernaut even if Flagg or others are limited. The Blue Devils have won 22 of their last 23 games, including six straight, with four of their last five victories by 35 points or more, averaging 98.6 points since mid-February, per Duke Wire.

Bracketology and Beyond

In USA TODAY Sports’ latest Bracketology on February 26, Duke solidified its status as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, projected to face either Quinnipiac or American in the first round. Their path to the Final Four could include matchups against Iowa State, St. John’s, Purdue, and former Blue Devil Mark Mitchell’s Missouri Tigers. With a 24-3 record against the spread in moneyline favorite scenarios (88.9% win rate), Duke is peaking at the perfect time for March Madness.

What’s Next?

A victory tonight keeps Duke atop the ACC, holding a one-game lead over Clemson and Louisville. After Wake Forest, they close the regular season at Louisville on March 8 before heading to the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. The injury report remains the biggest variable: Proctor’s potential return could bolster their backcourt, while Brown’s absence tests their frontcourt depth. Regardless, this young squad—led by Flagg, Knueppel, Maluach, and a surging Evans—has the Cameron Crazies dreaming of a sixth national title.

Stay tuned as Duke aims to finish the regular season strong and carry their momentum into the postseason!