The Duke Blue Devils are once again stirring excitement as they gear up for a potential deep run in March Madness. With the Final Four in their sights, the team knows everything needs to click, and a key player in this equation is sophomore Isaiah Evans.
Evans, known for his sharpshooting, faced a challenging stretch from January 14 to February 7, hitting just 25.5% from beyond the arc. Despite this slump, Duke managed to secure victories in six out of seven games, though their usual explosiveness seemed slightly tempered.
Stepping up during this period were Cameron Boozer, Pat Ngongba, and Caleb Foster, who kept the Blue Devils on track. But the real story is Evans' resurgence.
After being benched at the start of the second half against Pittsburgh, he found his rhythm, going 12-for-21 from three-point range over the last three games. This marks his best shooting spree since early January when he dazzled against Florida State, Louisville, and SMU.
If Evans maintains this level of play, Duke doesn't just look like a Final Four team-they become legitimate contenders for the National Championship.
Head coach Jon Scheyer praised Evans following their victory over Syracuse, highlighting his vocal leadership and growth in all aspects of the game. “Isaiah has embraced more than just shooting and scoring,” Scheyer noted.
“His defensive engagement and presence in the locker room have been tremendous. He’s a great teammate, always cheering for his guys.”
This season, Evans has improved across the board with averages of 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game. His development has been a point of pride for Scheyer, who added, “I’m just proud of his growth. He’s shown consistency and maturity, especially in these last few games.”
As Duke eyes the tournament, Evans' resurgence could be the X-factor that propels them to new heights.