Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Champ on Jeremy Roach: 'He's Way Better Than Me'

Jeremy Roach may be Duke basketball's Quinn Cook 2.0, or at least that's what Cook seems to suggest.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Kyle Filipowski might have been Duke basketball's top overall producer in the 89-68 home win over unranked Hofstra on Tuesday night. But Jeremy Roach also had an impressive stat line: 19 points, three rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and zero turnovers in his game-high 37 minutes for the No. 21 Blue Devils (7-3, 0-1 ACC).

RELATED: Turnovers Aside, Duke's Kyle Filipowski Enjoys Career Night

Afterward, beloved Duke basketball alum and two-time NBA champion Quinn Cook took to social media to heap praise on the Blue Devil he calls his "baby bro."

Responding to a post that outlined Roach's consistent numbers the past five games and included side-by-side pictures of the Blue Devil treasures, Cook delivered the following show of admiration: "He's way better than me!!"

There are countless similarities between senior co-captain Jeremy Roach and Quinn Cook, a senior co-captain for the 2014-15 Blue Devils on their way to capturing the program's fifth NCAA title.

Both are 6-foot-2 combo guards hailing from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Cook's time in Durham coincided with Jon Scheyer becoming an assistant coach under legend Mike Krzyzewski. And Scheyer succeeded Coach K following Roach's sophomore year.

The list goes on, including their career stats as consistently improving Blue Devils.

Roach has averaged 10.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across his 105 Duke basketball games to date. Cook averaged 11.0 points, 2.7 boards, and 3.6 dimes in 143 outings.

Through 10 games this season, Roach, recently flourishing in his role at the two-spot while chipping in with some floor general duties as Tyrese Proctor recovers from a sprained ankle, is averaging 14.8 points per contest. He's shooting 51.0 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from three, and 80.6 percent at the foul line.

As a senior in 2014-15, Cook was primarily a shooting guard, allowing then-freshman sensation Tyus Jones to be the chief ball handler and playmaker. He averaged 15.3 points on 45.3 percent shooting from the field, 39.5 percent beyond the arc, and 89.1 percent at the charity stripe.

Of course, Jeremy Roach lacks the national championship. Then again, his quest isn't over yet. Plus, he won an ACC Tournament, a feat Quinn didn't accomplish.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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