Can Tyrese Proctor’s Return Revitalize the Blue Devils Into Their Winning Shape?

There always remains a big question looming among analysts about which team will take the winnings and which one will eat dust, especially when an old rivalry is prevailing between the two. A very obvious case rooted in this debate is of the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Although, the Blue Devils have been staying on track, however, Tyrese Proctor’s return has surely taken the team to a new level.

Last month on December 2nd, the Blue Devils’ point guard was sidelined due to a sprain in his left ankle during a game against Georgia Tech. However, Proctor led the Blue Devils to take back what they lost in the December heartbreaker by defeating the Yellow Jackets in a close 84-79 win on Saturday.

Tyrese Proctor en route to the Blue Devils’ liberation

Tyrese Proctor’s return is working as a catalyst for the Blue Devils as they are picking up the pace with every game they are playing. However, their recent win couldn’t shake sports analyst Jeff Goodman’s confidence in North Carolina as he puts it, “It’s North Carolina because I think that team has jelled quickly uh Duke has had you know some issues right I mean obviously with Proctor’s injury and his slow start that has factored into their kind of up and down play,” indicating that the Blue Devils took a hit with Tyrese Proctor’s injury early into the season.

However, there is another side to this coin as Duke, under Jon Scheyer’s novel guidance, seems to make it through. Even if North Carolina looks like a better choice to everyone, meanwhile the Blue Devils are moving up at every step they take, no matter if they win or lose a game it eventually comes down to pose a good offense and a better defense, with Proctor rising up on the Horizon.

In yesterday’s matchup against Georgia Tech, he scored 3 pointers in the second half, putting the Blue Devils in the lead at 72-69. Past halftime, Proctor had already hooped 11 of 17 points. His gameplay remained instrumental in his team’s victory. Moreover, Proctor’s composure proved fruitful in a tight game and also reflected why he is an integral player on the Blue Devils’ roster.

Despite facing his injury this season, Tyrese has been averaging 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Also, he has been shooting with a field goal percentage of 45.7%. He is undoubtedly a versatile athlete, having different skills as his insights and guidance play a valuable role for the team.

Although he was sidelined by his injury, however, his point guard mind didn’t shut off as he kept aiding his team with his strategies. In addition, his offensive contribution has been significant as he is responsible for 28.1% of the Blue Devils’ collective assists. An impressive stat to consider is his assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.5 which constitutes 98% across the United States. Proctor, with a total of 82 points, is the 3rd leading scorer on the Blue Devils roster, with a true shooting rate of 56.5%.

Talking about defense, on the other hand, it is enough to say that Proctor’s huge 6-foot-5 frame naturally makes him a versatile defender against his opponents. As an efficient point guard, Proctor is somehow always responsible for at least one out of three shots made for either Filipowski, Roach, or McCain. Needless to say, Tyrese’s presence is substantial for the Blue Devils run for the national championship this season.

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With that being stated, let’s see how the Blue Devils have been performing up till now.

The rebuilding Blue Devils

After Coach K left, the coaching reigns were transferred to Jon Scheyer. This season, his defense-first system has proved effective and the team has shown improvement while playing a small-ball lineup. Notably, his coaching style has brought out the best in players like Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, and Jared McCain. Scheyer’s depth in strategy is playing a strong role this year, as there is at least one reliable backup present in each position.

Interestingly, Scheyer has broken Duke’s 80-year-old basketball record for the best first-season with a recent 4th straight game in an 81-65 win over Virginia Tech. Evidently, the Blue Devils are playing with a stronghold. Presently, they have a record of 12-3 and rank at #2 in the ACC. So far, their remarkable wins include a 92-54 season opener win against Dartmouth, followed by a moderately close 74-65 win over Michigan State, a 78-70 win over Baylor, and an outstanding 86-66 win over Syracuse.

However, the Blue Devils did face some losses too. Notably, their first defeat of the season was against Arizona with a close score of 73-78. Their second defeat turned significant as it was against Georgia Tech and more importantly, the game where Tyrese Proctor suffered from his ankle injury.

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However, the Devils are playing hard, with Tyrese strongly unwilling to back down. Even though he was not fully cleared to perform in full contact, he has still been making standing shots, contributing to the team’s success in every possible way.