The NCAA men’s basketball season is still a few weeks away, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of excitement, particularly in Durham (NC), where the Duke Blue Devils play.
Duke, ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press preseason poll, has the nation’s No. 1 rated 2024 recruiting class and 11 total newcomers. However, the key to the season will be the leadership and play of the Blue Devils’ two returning starters, Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor.
“Most definitely. It’s been a big step for me, but I’m leaning into this leadership role, Foster told Cyro Assseo de Checho of Hoopshype.com.” Tyrese, my roommate, has been great. I love Tyrese [Proctor]. I think we’re doing a really good job leading these guys, and we’ve just got to keep getting better every day. Maliq Brown and Mason [Gillis], who’ve played college basketball elsewhere, have also contributed with me and Tyrese to help the younger guys get through day-to-day.
“I wasn’t really the guy who talked a lot, but stepping into a leadership role means people are looking up to me,” Foster continued. “Now, it’s important for me to be vocal, especially since Tyrese and I are the only ones who have been here before.”
Duke Star Guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster Talk About Upcoming Season And Where They Can Improve
Foster and Proctor came to Duke as top-100 prospects, and both are looking to improve on their 2023-24 seasons, during which they helped the Blue Devils win 27 games for a second consecutive season under coach Jon Scheyer. Foster, who was the higher high school prospect and a year younger, though Proctor had the better season last year. The pair split time as part-time starters and sixth men.
Proctor has shown the ability to be a two-way player as he is capable of hounding the ball-handler. The 6-5 Australian guard improved significantly as a shooter and passer as a sophomore. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds with shooting slash lines of 42.3/35.2/75.5. He scored in double figures 19 times, topping the 20-point mark once.
“Coming in early year, it was a lot, but it was, you know, I was ready for the challenge and had a solid two years,” Proctor told Assseo de Checho in another article. “But you know, I know I’m capable of much more and had a great summer this summer, and I’m just ready.”
“Just sharpening up my offensive game, Proctor added when talking about his focus during the summer. “My body was a big thing too –keeping my weight consistent throughout the season.”
Foster, a consensus top-20 2023 recruit, had an up-and-down freshman campaign. The 6-5 guard tallied 33 points over the first three games of the season, reaching double-figures twice, but only topped the 10-point mark six more times. He averaged 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists with a shooting slash line of 43.7/40.6/68.8. He appeared in 27 games as a late February ankle injury cost him the ACC and NCAA tournament
Proctor and Foster Expectations and Goals
Proctor will presumably take over the point guard duties as he is the better facilitator and ball-handler of the two. Meanwhile, Foster is the more dangerous shooter and is likely to play off the ball. However, Proctor seemingly disagrees with that assessment.
“Whatever coach wants, I’ll do. We played with three guards last year, so I was on-ball, off-ball. It doesn’t matter. Whatever I’ve got to do to help us win games, I’ll do. Caleb can handle the ball, I can handle the ball, everyone can, so there’s no one particular guy.
I think people think I take a backseat in scoring and stuff like that, but I don’t think basketball is all about scoring, Proctor said what he is looking to improve. “I can score the ball, but I need to shoot the ball better. I haven’t shot it as well the last two years, but I’ve been able to score the ball offensively. I think I’ve done a great job defensively, leadership-wise, and stuff like that, but I feel underrated and overlooked as a scorer. However, I don’t pay too much attention to that; I’m just out there trying to make winning plays and win games. Whether I score 20 points one night or 5 points another, it’s just what I have to do to win.”
Proctor and Foster went head to head in the Blue Devils’ annual Blue and White scrimmage earlier this month. While each player helped their squad to win a 10-minute game (they played 20 minutes overall), Foster’s led White team won the cumulative game 54-41 as the Sherman Oaks (Calif.) native tallied a scrimmage-high 17 points.
Foster scored 15 points of his points in the second game of the scrimmage and finished 5 of 11 from the field, including 2 of 5 from deep. He also added four assists and no turnovers.
“I’ve been working on my body this offseason, Foster answered when asked what he has been working on this offseason. I obviously got hurt last season, so I’ve been focused on strengthening my body, especially my legs, to be able to withstand the whole season of college basketball. I’m also sharpening my skills – shooting, ball handling, finishing – pretty much everything.
However, Proctor struggled shooting the ball in scrimmage. Proctor finished with five points, on 1 of 7 shooting from the floor, including 1 of 3 from deep, four assists along with one steal and two turnovers.
Freshmen Cooper Flagg, Khaman Malauch, Isaiah Evans, and Kon Knueppel also shined during the scrimmage. Meanwhile, Sion James was impressive defensively recording four steals and one block.
Upcoming Season
Duke is in the top 10 of the AP poll for the 17th straight season and 29th overall. The Blue Devils have also won at least 27 games in each of the last three seasons, making the NCAA Tournament each of those seasons. They are 54-18 under Scheyer, winning an ACC Tournament crown (2023) and reaching the Elite 8 a season ago.
Duke has two exhibition games scheduled. On October 19, Duke will host Lincoln University (PA) and then Arizona State on October 27. The Blue Devils will begin the season with two straight home games versus Maine (Nov. 4) and Army West Point (Nov. 8). They will face Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, and Auburn prior to opening ACC play.
