‘We’ve handled our own business’: Duke’s men’s basketball relies on bench scoring to overwhelm Florida State

The No. 17 Duke, who came out of a flat performance with a loss to Wake Forest in the ACC road opener, had to respond in a big way in the final game of the calendar year. They won 86-67 against Florida State University.

The Blue Devils leveraged their signature strategy of utilizing tough defense and offensive rebounds. These two of his had struggled in their last game in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Blue Devils he forced 13 turnovers and turned the offensive board of 10 into his points with 13 second chances. A recipe for success in conference play.

Up to this point in the season, Duke has consistently relied on the same player to get him through big moments. Mostly junior guard Jeremy Roach and 7-foot freshman Kai Filippowski. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, neither player brought in an A-game on Saturday. Roach was still battling a nagging toe injury and Filipowski was struggling to find his footing so far in ACC play.

But head coach John Scheer has shown he’s not afraid to use his depth widely, and the move paid off a lot Saturday. had 46 bench points against Two of his players, largely overlooked before the season began, sophomore guard Jalen Blakes and alumni center Ryan Young, were the catalysts to the winning success.

Shire said after the game, “We’ve had deep conversations that it’s our strength, whether it’s in the starting line-up or coming off the bench.” A player played in extra time.”

After scoring a career-high 17 points against Wake Forest, Blakes joined the starting lineup for the first time in his Duke career on Saturday, proving he belongs in the starting five. took over the game early and scored Duke’s first five points. That’s part of his career-high 17-point total.

Along with his trademark tenacity on defense, Blakes appears to be unleashing untapped potential on offense. The sophomore guard, in particular, has made it 4-for-6 with a high clip across the arc in games where the rest of the team struggled from downtown. During the offseason and his December long break, Blakes worked on his game, and Shire clearly recognized and rewarded this. Whether or not Blakes will continue to be a starter remains to be seen, but it’s clear that his role in this year’s team is growing by the day.

“I’m really proud of what he’s accomplished,” Shire said of Blakes. And he’s just grown up, and he’s as hardworking as we are, he’s researching incredible game plans, and I’m proud and happy for him. “

Another cog in the Duke machine that hasn’t necessarily had flashy numbers so far is Darik Whitehead. The freshman forward battled preseason injuries but is starting to make progress. We put 16 on Saturday in an aggressive display that showcased elite driving and shooting prowess.

Unfortunately for Whitehead, he was unable to make the most of December after missing multiple practices and Wake Forest games due to illness. However, these aggressive outbursts were only a matter of time for the highly talented guard.

It’s clear that Whitehead’s confidence is growing and Duke can take great advantage of his improved play.

Duke’s depth was evident in the final game of 2022, painting an even more promising picture for the rest of the season. Blakes, Young and Whitehead are likely to continue increasing their minutes if they maintain their current level of play, making an already strong team even more dangerous.

The Blue Devils are now looking to carry Saturday’s winning momentum into the new year. When asked what his New Year’s resolution is, Blakes said, “I’m going to win a national championship.”