Just as junior guard Tyrese Proctor reached the milestone of 1,000 career points, a knee injury in the first half sent him off the court with assistance.
Once the second half resumed, a team spokesperson informed the ESPN crew that the 6-foot-5 combo guard wouldn’t be returning. Proctor, having started every game this season under head coach Jon Scheyer, has been having a standout year. He’s been averaging 12 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, boasting a shooting percentage of 44% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc for the Blue Devils. His defensive prowess has also been a crucial asset, frequently taking on the challenge of guarding the opponents’ top wing or backcourt threats.
The injury occurred when Proctor was backpedaling to defend a drive by Miami’s Divine Ugochukwu. They collided in mid-air, and on landing, Proctor’s left knee seemed to give way, causing him to limp toward the baseline. Referee Ted Valentine immediately halted the game, allowing Duke to substitute Proctor, who was then taken to the locker room and didn’t return to the game.
Proctor’s potential absence would mean joining fellow classmate Maliq Brown, known as Duke’s leading post defender, on the bench, with just three regular-season games left.
With Proctor sidelined, the Blue Devils took the opportunity to extend playing time to freshman Isaiah Evans and sophomore Caleb Foster. Both capitalized on the moment, scoring double digits and guiding Duke to a commanding 97-60 victory over Miami. Evans made an impressive five out of six three-pointers in the first half, accumulating 16 points. Foster, stepping up after halftime, shot four of six from the field, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, totaling 10 points.
Kon Knueppel topped the scoreboard with 20 points, while Cooper Flagg contributed 16 points, along with five rebounds and six assists, propelling Duke to a 25-3 record overall and 16-1 in conference play.
In the postgame press conference, head coach Jon Scheyer was cautious about commenting on Proctor’s condition, revealing that the guard would undergo diagnostic imaging once back in Durham.
“He’s tough,” Scheyer mentioned during the postgame show. “He took a hit to the leg. We’ll get him some imaging done and take it from there.”
