Blue Devil Country

Surging Duke Basketball Veteran Explains Next-Level Sizzle From Deep

An uptick in Tyrese Proctor splashes has the Duke basketball squad blazing.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball
Duke basketball / Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
In this story:

Duke basketball junior guard Tyrese Proctor tied his season high with 23 points on Saturday. And the No. 3-ranked Blue Devils (22-3, 14-1 ACC) tallied Jon Scheyer's second-largest ACC victory as a head coach by overpowering the visiting Stanford Cardinal (16-10, 8-7 ACC), 106-70, in Durham.

ALSO READ: Top North Carolina Recruit Attends Duke Home Game

Proctor, now averaging 19.4 points across the past five outings and shooting 18-for-37 from downtown, posted a 5-for-8 clip beyond the arc against Stanford, part of a torching 14-for-29 Blue Devil effort in the 3-point department.

Afterward, the 6-foot-6 Australian explained in the locker room why the "shots are falling" with so much intensity these days:

"We're just playing free. We've got so many shooters on the court. If you help on [Cooper Flagg] or help on [Kon Knueppel] on their drives, everyone's loaded up, ready for the ball.

"I think we've got a good rhythm right now, and we're starting to feel like we're playing with each other a lot better. Everyone knows the few things that everyone can do to a high level, so it's just repping those and putting guys in situations where they can succeed in that.

"I'm just having fun out there. I'm not overthinking. I'm playing confident. And shots are falling."

Tyrese Proctor and the Blue Devils next face a road clash against the Virginia Cavaliers (13-12, 6-8 ACC) at 8 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN).

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI 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