{"id":161422,"date":"2025-10-03T21:39:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T01:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=161422"},"modified":"2025-10-03T21:39:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T01:39:48","slug":"four-takeaways-from-countdown-to-craziness-2025-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/03\/four-takeaways-from-countdown-to-craziness-2025-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Takeaways from Countdown to Craziness 2025-26"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Countdown to Craziness has come and gone which means the 2025-26 Duke basketball season is officially underway. Duke had two huge recruits on campus in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/08\/jordan-smith-nations-no-2-prospect-has-leader-in-recruitment\/\" target=\"_self\">five stars Jordan Smith<\/a> and Cameron Williams. Duke also shocked the Crazies by announcing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/jayson-tatum-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> which produced a massive pop in the crowd.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">JT IN THE BUILDING\u203c\ufe0f <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jaytatum0?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@jaytatum0<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KdjeZgRdiC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/KdjeZgRdiC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Duke Men\u2019s Basketball (@DukeMBB) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DukeMBB\/status\/1974269442398830870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Craziness was preceded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/jon-scheyer-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jon Scheyer<\/a> agreeing to a contract extension after just three seasons at the helm. Most people would not envy Scheyer in taking over for the greatest coach of all time at a University that expects championships and gets everyone&#8217;s best shot. However, Scheyer has been as good as anyone could have ever done in that role. The only thing that is missing thus far is a championship. This years group will try to check off that box and we learned quite a bit at Countdown to Craziness.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Patrick Ngongba<\/h3>\n<p>There has been a lot of noise about the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/18\/predicting-leading-scorers-duke-2025-evans-boozer\/\" target=\"_self\">potential leap that Patrick Ngongba could take this year<\/a>.\u00a0 After that twelve minute scrimmage, I am not sure the expectations could be higher. Ngongba was slyly mentioned as a darkhorse to win the Duke three-point contest and he showed why with a smooth jumper in the scrimmage. He also showed off his excellent passing ability with some smooth finds.<\/p>\n<p>Ngongba also appears notably trimmed down. He spent his senior season of high school with nagging injuries and they continued to follow him through his freshman year. He now appears fully healthy and well-conditioned which he will need to be given his new starting role.<br \/>\n<!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Cameron Boozer<\/h3>\n<p>The superstar freshman looked as good as advertised. He does not appear like a freshman at all given his solid frame. Boozer also is very comfortable with the ball in his hands as evidenced by multiple takes off the bounce and the occasional grab and go rebounds.<\/p>\n<p>Boozer has a natural ease that he plays with where he always appears under control. He was able to hit a nice side step three as well as a few very physical finishes going through the chest of defenders. He will certainly be the focal point of this Duke season.<\/p>\n<p>Boozer is the prize possession of the Duke recruiting class. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/18\/2026-nba-draft-prospect-preview-duke-forward-cameron-boozer\/\" target=\"_self\">He also will stake his claim to the number one pick in the NBA Draft<\/a> and attempt to be the third straight number one pick out of Durham. From what was seen tonight, that expectation is not far fetched at all.<br \/>\n<!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Shooters for Days<\/h3>\n<p>Duke shot the absolute lights out. Nets were on fire right from the tip as threes came early and often. This was preceded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/darren-harris-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Darren Harris<\/a> hitting 22\/25 from deep in the three-point competition which he won even if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/caleb-foster-2.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Caleb Foster<\/a> took one extra shot per spot than Harris.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/isaiah-evans-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isaiah Evans<\/a> had his typical microwave shooting performance. Foster knocked down an NBA range three after a nice performance in the team shooting challenge. Both Boozer brothers hit one as did Nik Khamenia. Ngongba had the sweet stroke as noted above. Sebastian Wilkins also knocked down a couple and made it brutally obvious that it will be nearly impossible to keep him off the court. Don&#8217;t forget, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/maliq-brown-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Maliq Brown<\/a> can shoot too.<\/p>\n<p>While on the topic, Wilkins looked outstanding. He has a great frame and is very athletic. He can play the three or the four and if he can knock down a few jumpers he will be on the court often.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Seb called game! Love the ball movement by \ud83d\udd35 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/O05CKzurOD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/O05CKzurOD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Duke Men\u2019s Basketball (@DukeMBB) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DukeMBB\/status\/1974279350657954283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h3>Caleb Foster<\/h3>\n<p>Caleb Foster is the clear veteran of the group. However, he looked slightly rushed and uncomfortable as he did last year. Foster had a few questionable decisions and seemed to always be stuck between attacking the rim or pulling up for jumpers.<\/p>\n<p>Few people would argue that Foster has incredible talent and all of the athleticism in the world. He is a quick twitch player with a great jumper and even better explosiveness. The only limitation is going to be whether or not his mind lets him reach the level his talent says he should.<\/p>\n<p>Scheyer has faith in Foster as evidenced by Foster earning legit minutes in March Madness after falling out of the rotation before that. Foster made Scheyer look good by his performances in March so the hope was he would carry it over to his junior year and take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/tyrese-proctor-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyrese Proctor<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/wendell-moorejr-1.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-10-03_cbb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wendell Moore<\/a> leap but his Countdown to Craziness performance was slightly concerning. If he can&#8217;t be the true point guard, then Duke will either need to play him off the bench or move him off ball and start Cayden Boozer with him.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Countdown to Craziness has come and gone which means the 2025-26 Duke basketball season is officially underway. Duke had two huge recruits on campus in five stars Jordan Smith and Cameron Williams. Duke also shocked the Crazies by announcing Jayson Tatum which produced a massive pop in the crowd. JT IN THE BUILDING\u203c\ufe0f @jaytatum0 pic.twitter.com\/KdjeZgRdiC [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3244,"featured_media":161425,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773],"tags":[49715,861,48981],"class_list":["post-161422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","tag-cameron-boozer","tag-duke-blue-devils","tag-jon-scheyer"],"modified_by":"Zach Kircher","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3244"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=161422"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161427,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161422\/revisions\/161427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}