Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Sophomore Returns to Starting Five Versus Clemson

With Jeremy Roach working his way back to full strength, Duke basketball is rolling out a new combination of starters.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Coming off Tuesday night's 83-69 road win over Louisville, Duke basketball is back in action at 4 p.m. ET Saturday when the No. 12 Blue Devils (14-4, 5-2 ACC) host unranked Clemson (13-5, 3-4 ACC) in the teams' only meeting of the regular season.

Against the Cardinals, Duke sophomore forward Mark Mitchell and senior guard Jeremy Roach returned from their knee injuries after sitting out the Blue Devils' most recent game in Cameron Indoor Stadium, last Saturday's 80-76 loss to unranked Pitt.

But Roach sat on the bench almost the entire second half after turning his right ankle and was on crutches afterward when boarding the plane back to Durham. So, despite the fact Roach warmed up alongside his teammates ahead of Saturday afternoon's showdown against Clemson, it's no surprise he's not in the starting lineup.

Here are the starters for the Blue Devils, including Tyrese Proctor, who is fresh off his career-high 24-point scoring performance off the bench on Tuesday night:

  • Sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor 
  • Freshman guard Jared McCain
  • Freshman guard Caleb Foster
  • Sophomore forward Mark Mitchell
  • Sophomore forward Kyle Filipowski

This marks the first time that second-year Duke head coach Jon Scheyer has employed the above mix of Blue Devil starters.

NEXT DUKE BASKETBALL GAME: at unranked Virginia Tech (12-7, 4-4 ACC), 7 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN)

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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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