Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Guard: Back-To-Back Losses 'United Us'

Although Jaylen Blakes is not a captain, the Duke basketball junior is a leader and spark plug.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball guard Jaylen Blakes (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
In this story:

Duke basketball's 45 points at the break against visiting Charlotte in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday afternoon were the most from the Blue Devils in any first half this season. And their 25-point lead with under two minutes remaining before the break marked the team's largest first-half advantage to date.

RELATED: Two Blue Devil Sophomores Out With Injury Against Charlotte

The 22nd-ranked Blue Devils (6-3, 0-1 ACC) went on to notch a feel-good 80-59 victory over the unranked 49ers to get back on the right track following back-to-back road losses to Arkansas and Georgia Tech last week.

Junior guard Jaylen Blakes, a notably high-energy reserve who tallied a season-high 15 points without missing a shot from the field or at the charity stripe, provided a critical on-court spark with this explosive dunk in transition six minutes into the contest:

But in the locker room following the win, Blakes suggested that the most important sparks came during an "intense week of practice":

"Losing those two games in a row can either break you or make you. And for us, we couldn't let it break us. It brought us together...

"We had a collective energy where we needed to make a statement that the two games don't define us. We have a lot more season left, and this is going to help with our momentum. We obviously see [the negativity], but we can't listen to it. We have an internal belief in ourselves.

"Nobody sees what's going on behind closed doors, the way we've put in the work. And at the end of the day, we understand the work that we put in. People can write us off. They can do all that. But we have an internal belief in ourselves that our work will pay off and we'll continue to build off this momentum...

"There was a lot of naysayers when you lose two games in a row, especially when wearing the Duke uniform. But for us, it united us."

Jaylen Blakes and the Blue Devils next host unranked Hofstra on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

STREAM: fuboTV (start your free trial)

WATCH: Manny Diaz Gives Fist Pumps to Duke Basketball's Cameron Crazies

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

Published
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.

Home/Basketball