How Caleb Foster’s toughness and leadership help No. 6 Duke win
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- Caleb Foster led a decisive second-half surge, scoring 16 of 20 points.
- Foster anchored defense, limiting Ryan Conwell to eight second-half points.
- Teammates and coach credited Foster’s leadership and toughness in clutch moments.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer was asked a number of questions Tuesday about freshman Cameron Boozer, and understandably so, after the Blue Devils’ 84-73 win over Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center.
Boozer had a game-high 27 points. The Cardinals had no answer for him as he hit 10 of his 12 shots in the game, highlighted by three 3-pointers. His defense, Scheyer said, might have been his best of the season. He was unflappable, even when Duke trailed in the first half and couldn’t get its footing.
“He just understands what the game requires,” Scheyer said.
And yet a few moments later, there was Boozer standing outside the Duke locker room talking about Caleb Foster, about how the junior guard helped will the No. 6 Devils into the lead in the second half and to another ACC road victory.
Foster scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half as Duke wiped out a nine-point halftime deficit and surged ahead. He also helped corral Louisville’s Ryan Conwell, who had 16 of his 24 points in the opening half and clearly had the touch.
Conwell had eight second-half points and missed all four of his 3’s as the Cardinals, were 2-for-17 from the arc in the final 20 minutes after hitting 10 of 21 in the first half.
“He did a great job in the second half, especially guarding Conwell,” Boozer said. “He did a great job getting downhill, attacking. He had a huge second half for us, for sure.
“He’s been a huge leader ever since we got here this summer, showing us what Duke culture is, showing how tough you have to be to play on this level, against a ranked team on the road.”
Foster `brought the fight’ for Duke
Foster did not take long to make an impact in the second half. He scored after a Louisville turnover. He followed that with a jumper.
“Caleb Foster was a game-changer in the second half,” Louisville coach Pat Kelsey said. “We really, really struggled to keep him out of the paint.”
With Louisville leading, 60-59, Foster drove to the basket for a score. A minute later, he did it again.
“We brought the fight in the second half and were able to get separation,” Foster said.
Foster is the kind of player who relishes making big plays in the biggest moments, whether with his offense, grabbing a big rebound or being part of a timely defensive stop.
“In some of the closest games this year, he’s put us over the hump,” Scheyer said. “With his athleticism on the floor, his ability to create offense for us is key. And I thought his defense was key, too.
“That’s really important, that you have a two-way guy who’s experienced, he’s been in these moments and he was poised the whole way.”
A new career high for Foster
In scoring his career high, Foster would make nine of his 13 shots from the field, although a player who has hit some critical 3’s this season did miss both of his 3-pointers Tuesday. He also was 2-of-6 at the foul line.
But Foster will tell you he isn’t about personal numbers.
“I just try to do whatever it takes to win.” he said. “I want to win at all costs.”
One look at his face in the second half Tuesday, so determined, would tell you that.
