Duke’s Free-Throw Woes Resurface vs. Cal - And Isaiah Evans Thinks the Ball Might Be to Blame
The Duke Blue Devils handled business on Wednesday night against Cal, putting together a solid all-around performance that checked most of the boxes you'd want to see from a top-10 program. They outshot, out-rebounded, and out-defended the Golden Bears in nearly every statistical category - except one. And it’s the one that should be automatic at this level: free throws.
Duke hit just 47 percent from the line - a number that jumps off the page for all the wrong reasons. For a team with national title aspirations, that kind of inefficiency at the stripe isn’t just a red flag; it’s a siren.
After the game, junior guard Isaiah Evans was asked about the team’s continued struggles at the line. His response? It might not just be about mechanics or focus - it could be the ball.
Yep, the ball.
“We have been working on that,” Evans said. “I'm not the type to make excuses, but that ball, that Evolution ball, is not my favorite.”
Evans was referring to the Wilson Evolution basketballs used in the game against Cal - a departure from the Nike balls Duke typically uses at Cameron Indoor. And while blaming the ball might sound like a stretch at first glance, there might be something to it.
Evans himself went just 1-for-3 from the line - 33 percent - and the rest of Duke’s starting five missed six free throws combined. That’s a lot of points left on the table in a game where the Blue Devils otherwise controlled the tempo and flow.
To put things in perspective, Duke shot 45 percent from the field - not elite, but respectable - and a cold 22 percent from beyond the arc. So it wasn’t just the free throws that were off.
But here’s where it gets interesting: in a recent road win over Florida State, where the Blue Devils played with Nike basketballs, they shot 92 percent from the line, 53 percent from the field, and 44 percent from three. That’s a drastic uptick across the board.
Now, nobody’s saying the basketball is solely responsible for Duke’s shooting inconsistencies. But for a team that relies on rhythm and touch, even a subtle change in feel or grip can throw off a shooter’s comfort level. Evans isn’t making excuses - he’s pointing out a variable that might be affecting performance, and it’s something head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff will want to examine closely.
Because here’s the bottom line: Duke can’t afford to leave points at the line, not in tight ACC matchups and certainly not come March. Whether it’s the ball, the routine, or just a mental hurdle, the Blue Devils need to find consistency at the stripe - fast.
The rest of the performance against Cal was solid. The defense was active, the offense found enough rhythm to pull away, and the team looked composed down the stretch.
But that free-throw percentage? That’s the kind of stat that keeps coaches up at night.
And if Evans is right - if the type of ball really is throwing Duke off - then it’s more than just a one-game anomaly. It’s a fixable issue. And for a team with championship potential, those are the best kinds of problems to have - as long as they’re addressed before it’s too late.