Duke Quiets Queens To End 2023

Jared McCain was stellar in the Blue Devils’ final tune-up before conference play

Duke was expected to dominate Queens in its final contest of 2023, and despite some defensive struggles it ended up doing just that.

The Blue Devils scored 60 points in the second half en route to a 106-69 victory in its final non-conference game of the season. Jared McCain continued the ascent that began during Tyrese Proctor’s three game absence, putting up 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Kyle Filipowski scored an efficient 19 points in just 22 minutes due to foul trouble.

Perhaps more important for Duke’s long term outlook was the return of Proctor from that three-plus game absence following an ankle injury in the early minutes of the Blue Devils’ loss at Georgia Tech. Overcoming some uncharacteristic turnovers, Proctor finished with 9 points and 4 assists in 18 minutes of action, and showed no ill-effects from the injury.

Despite a stellar offensive effort against an outmatched Queens’ team, the Royals remained within shouting distance of Duke in the first half thanks to some stellar shooting and the efforts of Deyton Albury, who finished with 23 points. But Albury also had 7 of Queens’ 19 turnovers, which were the impetus for the Blue Devils pulling away in the second half: Duke scored 33 points off turnovers and outscored the Royals 24 to 10 in fast break points.

The Blue Devils will now get to enjoy the New Year’s holiday before returning to action on Tuesday against Syracuse, a game that looks more challenging than it might have in the pre-season after a 10-3 start for the Orange in Adrian Autry’s first season succeeding Jim Boeheim.