RALEIGH, N.C. — There ought to be a well-recognized really feel for top-seeded Duke in its NCAA Event second-round sport with ninth-seeded Baylor on Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Devils will encounter some outdated associates, including to their experiences only a half-hour drive from campus.
Baylor guard Jeremy Roach was a Duke standout within the backcourt, taking part in a key position on the workforce’s 2022 Ultimate 4 workforce. He opted to play his remaining school season with the Bears.
“I coached him for 4 years, two as an assistant, two as a head coach,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. “He is given Duke every part he has.”
Duke (32-3) and Baylor (20-14) gained in vastly totally different fashions in Friday’s first spherical within the East Area.
Baylor held off eighth-seeded Mississippi State within the web site’s opener 75-72 earlier than Duke blew out No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary’s 93-49.
The Duke sport had no drama as soon as it started and star freshman Cooper Flagg was within the beginning lineup, again one week after struggling a sprained ankle that triggered him to overlook all besides a couple of minutes of the Blue Devils’ three-game run by the Atlantic Coast Convention event. He scored 14 factors in additional than 22 minutes on the court docket within the 44-point rout.
“I used to be simply ensuring he wasn’t pacing,” Scheyer mentioned. “Clearly giving him just a few additional minutes, I am certain that is going to be useful for Sunday.”
So now all the main target can stay up for the Baylor sport.
Scheyer mentioned there is not any sense dwelling on the Roach angle presently of the season.
“You are taking part in the NCAA Event,” he mentioned. “This ought to be about Duke and Baylor.”
Whereas Duke’s beginning lineup consists of 4 newcomers this season, junior guard Tyrese Proctor and Roach are former backcourt mates.
“(Roach is) my boy,” Proctor mentioned. “He is household and it is going to be nice.”
The Bears will attempt to use Roach’s presence to their benefit.
“I am certain we will decide his mind,” Baylor coach Scott Drew mentioned. “On the finish of the day, although, I do know he loves Duke and had an awesome expertise. I do know from when our previous assistants that we coach in opposition to, it is bittersweet.”
For Baylor ahead Norchad Omier, a former Miami participant, it is a matchup in opposition to a college he has confronted beforehand in ACC competitors.
In the meantime, there is a reunion amongst former Montverde Academy teammates Flagg and Baylor’s Robert Wright III.
“It is only a cool expertise being on this surroundings and this setting having performed collectively final yr, so it is simply actually cool,” Flagg mentioned.
Baylor’s shut name in opposition to Mississippi State added to the workforce’s bevy of shut outcomes, so the Bears have a look at that as a great tune-up for what’s coming subsequent.
“I feel it undoubtedly will get us prepared for a (No.) 1 seed and capable of go on the market and compete,” Wright mentioned.
Omier reached a Ultimate 4 with Miami two years in the past. He does not count on something to return simple.
“It is March,” he mentioned. “Something can occur. We have to be prepared for each sport to be an in depth sport.”
Duke’s 21 assists and two turnovers Friday marked the perfect single-game assist-to-turnover ratio in program historical past (10.5).
“Simply play our sport,” Proctor mentioned. “We have mentioned the entire yr, irrespective of who we play, simply play our sport.”
–Bob Sutton, Subject Stage Media