Don’t Let These Subplots Get Lost in Duke’s Domination of Baylor

Duke will need the depth it honed in Raleigh at some point in March Madness

The headlines from Duke’s domination of Baylor in Raleigh are obvious.

Tyrese Proctor shot historically well. Cooper Flagg proved (again) that any lingering effects of his ankle injury are insignificant. The rest of Duke’s starters were remarkably efficient, be it shooting (Khaman Maluach and Kon Kneuppel were a combined 7 for 8 from the field against the Bears) or initiating the offense (another game with no turnovers for Sion James).

But some notable developments from off the bench could end up being just as important for the Blue Devils’ larger goals in the NCAA Tournament.

Quite conspicuously, it was Caleb Foster who was the first perimeter substitute off the bench for Duke on Sunday. The sophomore delivered on his opportunity, too, most notably creating his own offense for the final basket of the first half. Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans had a surprisingly quiet evening, getting up just 2 shots in 7 minutes of action.

That substitution pattern may have been driven by the matchup more than Foster truly eclipsing Evans in the rotation; after all, Baylor was an abnormally guard-driven opponent. But it’s nonetheless a remarkable turnaround for a player who was Duke’s lone “DNP”—including the walk-ons— in the team’s final game in Cameron this season. While Foster likely won’t be relied on for anything approaching his 14 minutes in more competitive action in Newark this weekend, the mere fact that he’s regained the coaching staff’s confidence speaks volumes. It’s nothing short of a resurrection, and gives Duke something that Evans can’t provide off of the bench—a legitimate ballhandler. Blue Devil fans can feel some security knowing that if foul trouble comes for James or Proctor this weekend, Foster is more than capable of shouldering significant minutes.

Less conspicuous, but nonetheless as important, was Mason Gillis’ performance. Gillis was the unsung hero of the ACC Tournament—his play down the stretch against Louisville spurred Duke’s second half defensive turnaround. Against Baylor, Gillis not only continued his defensive excellence, but did so while getting right from deep, shooting 2 of 3 from beyond the arc. Gillis could be called upon heavily against Arizona on Thursday to guard Trey Townsend, a player who has many similarities to Gillis: he’s an undersized (at 6-foot-6) but strong power forward. Having trust that Gillis can match up with a Townshend’s unique frame while still spacing the floor will be pivotal.

Neither Foster nor Gillis’ performance made major waves in Duke’s victory, nor should they have. But they’re developments that ensure the Blue Devils have a full and diverse array of tools at their disposal as the matchups get more and more challenging each round. History tells us someone unexpected will emerge as a March hero, and Duke has more and more options to fill that role with each passing game.