The Blue Devils take flight in exhibition

DURHAM – Maybe “stale” isn’t the right word. duke players certainly won’t say they don’t like training against each other.

But there was undeniable relief for the Blue Devils when they finally got to face an opponent other than their teammates in Saturday’s 107-56 exhibition victory over Lincoln (Pa.) at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

“Yeah, relieve is a good word, I think,” one freshman said. Kon Knueppelwho scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half. “It’s really nice to compete against someone else and get used to something else. Instead of protecting our own action, it makes it much more difficult in practice.

“It was good to compete against someone else.”

Of course, it also helps to win by 51.

The relief turned into high-flying dunks and high-octane shooting from the Blue Devils. Knueppel scored a one-handed dunk against Ethan Garita early in the second half, which you’ll see on next week’s highlights; first year classmate Cooper Flagg had some high-flying moments in the second half.

Flagg led Duke with 22 points, hitting a few 3s and dishing out six assists – three of them going to Knueppel on 3s in the first half. Knueppel was 5 of 9 from 3, all in the first half.

Junior guard Tyrese Proctor scored 19 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting day. He echoed Knueppel’s sentiment that it was good for a team that played against itself throughout the summer and have been training and playing together for about a month and who can play in different colored jerseys.

“We worked on it all summer and we’ve been playing pickup for a long time,” Proctor said. “So it was great to go out and play with the guys, get a feel for how we’re going to play this year.”

Granted it was against a Division II team, the way the Blue Devils were going to play seemed dominant.

Duke was active defensively, turning defense (12 steals) into fast-paced offense (19 fast break points). It was also a deep rotation, with nine players taking the court in the first seven minutes – but more on that below.

Here are some other important takeaways from Duke’s first exhibition game:

Flagg’s first few minutes were eventful with more good than bad, but also two fouls that sent him to the bench for about 4½ minutes. He had two on each plus side – two buckets, two assists, two blocks – in the first five minutes.

“I think it just happened in the moment, one of them. On the transfer, I passed the guy, I just have to stop, I can’t run into someone,” Flagg told Devils Illustrated. “The other one, I just need to be in a better position. I can’t be in a bad position and go down.

The positive was that Flagg re-entered the game and played another eight minutes in the first half without committing a third foul, and without fouling in about 10 minutes on the court in the second half.

“He obviously has great instincts, given how hard he plays,” coach Jon Scheyer said about his freshman phenom. “And then you add his feelings, he’s going to make special plays. …I thought he was himself.

“I thought it was great for him to have an idea today.”

It was a 51-point win that came with plenty of teaching moments – always invaluable for a young team.

The Blue Devils didn’t like giving up 10 offensive rebounds, leading to seven second-chance points; it also wasn’t a good sign that Lincoln had 20 points in the paint.

“Rebounds, defensive rotations. Just the little things we can clean up,” a second-year guard. Caleb Foster said. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds and too many points in the paint. If we eliminate them, we gain even more, much more.

“These are two things that will cost us dearly in big games if we don’t continue to work.”

Duke’s starting lineup was surprising: Flagg, Knueppel and Foster were expected. But instead of Proctor in the backcourt with Foster, it was Zion James departure; and instead of the 7 foot freshman Khaman Malouach in the center, it was transfer Maliq Brown in position 5.

Per Scheyer: Don’t read too much into it.

“We’re looking at different formations, different rotations,” Scheyer said. “Get a feel for a different team. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a different starting group for the next game as well.

Next up is next weekend’s charity exhibition against Arizona State.

It’s worth noting Duke’s depth, though. Scheyer had replaced four players from his bench in the first seven minutes Saturday; 5 Star Recruit Isaiah Evans only came into play in the second half.

“The guys who end up playing are rewarded by what they do in practice,” Scheyer said. “This will not be based on recruiting rankings or mock drafts. … It depends on what makes Duke the best right now and what you won.

ADVICE : Foster appeared to be dealing with a minor left thumb/wrist injury in the first half. He went to the bench after a robbery attempt and returned with duct tape around his thumb and wrist. …Duke played 14 of its 15 players, the only absence being a freshman Patrick Ngongba II. Scheyer said he’s been jumping around a bit, but said he doesn’t have a time frame to play as he recovers from a nagging foot injury. …Walk-ons Spencer Hubbard And Stanley Borden both scored in the final minutes. … Duke had 25 assists on 37 field goals. …One of the referees was Trey Styonsson of longtime ACC referee Raymie Styonsdied suddenly in August. On the right sleeve of Trey’s referee shirt was a green heart with “RS” sewn into it.