Why seeing Tyrese Proctor steadily getting buckets means so much for Duke basketball
The edge Jon Scheyer longs to see from Tyrese Proctor was on display again Wednesday night.
As the Duke Blue Devils continue to run roughshod over the ACC this basketball season, that type of play from Proctor presents a scary scenario — that a Duke team on a 16-game winning streak can play even better.
“Tyrese, eventually, it’s going to happen if he’s aggressive,” Scheyer said Wednesday night after Proctor scored a team-best 16 points as No. 2 Duke obliterated Syracuse, 83-54, at JMA Wireless Dome. “I think that’s the biggest thing. I love when he’s shot ready. I love when he is assertive.”
Proctor hoisted 12 shots against the Orange, with 10 of them behind the 3-point line. No Blue Devil attempted more shots, not even national player of the year candidate Cooper Flagg.
Notably, it’s the second consecutive strong scoring game for Proctor, who entered Wednesday’s game averaging 10 points per game this season. On Saturday, he scored 17 points, while Kon Knueppel scored 22 and Flagg 21, when the Blue Devils beat North Carolina, 87-70.
While Flagg has played otherworldly while leading Duke in scoring (20.0), rebounding (8.0), assists (4.2), steals (1.5) and blocks (1.2), the Blue Devils need players to consistently score with him.
Knueppel, a freshman averaging 13.5 points, is looking for a more like that guy. He’s scored 12 points or more in all but one of Duke’s dozen ACC games this season. That includes the 12 he scored against Syracuse.
But Proctor, as a more experienced hand who has played in six NCAA tournament games, can elevate Duke’s play even higher.
It’s why Scheyer spent time with him in the days leading up to last Saturday’s game with UNC, reviewing game tape from throughout the junior’s career.
In Duke’s five games prior to UNC, Proctor scored inconsistently. He had four points on 1 of 6 shooting when Duke beat N.C. State 74-64. He scored six points on 2 of 12 shooting when the Blue Devils won 63-56 at Wake Forest.
Scheyer doesn’t concern himself if Proctor misses shots. He just wants him to take them.
“Whether it’s pick and roll,” Scheyer said, “driving off ball screens like he’s done the last two games, we need him in that mind space. So it doesn’t matter if he’s making or missing shots. I believe ultimately, for Tyrese, it’s going to drop.”
Proctor started league play with five consecutive double-figure scoring games, averaging 12 points a game. Then he was below 10 in four of five games. Now he’s back on a scoring binge and feeling good.
“I think the biggest thing for me is just being ready to shoot,” Proctor said. “Coach always wants me to be aggressive. I always must be ready to shoot. I mean, it’s just confidence. I’ve been confident the whole time. Obviously, I went through a little slump for two games. But trust your work. Keep working and just just stay confident.”
Because Proctor did that, he appears to be on the other side of that slump.
If Proctor can build on what he’s done the last two games, and Knueppel can keep scoring at his current clip, opponents will have a difficult time beating Duke.
That’s the difference Proctor can make.
This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM.