Why It's Next Man Up Mentality For Top Ranked Duke Heading Into Postseason After Closing Out 2025-2026 Regular Season With 76-61 Win Over North Carolina Saturday Night In Durham

Duke finished 2025-2026 regular season with 76-61 over North Carolina Saturday night in Durham when they were the top ranked team in AP Top 25 Poll when North Carolina was ranked 17th ranked 17th in AP Top 25 poll.

As Duke finished 2025-2026 regular season Saturday with 76-61 win over North Carolina as team Duke shot 29-69 for 42 % on field goals shot 10-32 for 31 %. Four players scored in double figures.. Maliq Brown who is a senior a forward a transfer from Syracuse was 6-9 on field goals , 1-3 on 3 pointers , 2-3 on free throws to go along 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 15 points Cameron Boozer who is a freshman who is a forward was 10-17 on field goals , 2-4 on 3 pointers , 4-6 on 3 pointers to go along with 15 rebounds , 5 assists 26 points. Dame Sarr who is a freshman who is a guard was 4-10 on field goals , 2-5 on 3 pointers to go along with 3 rebounds , 10 points. Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore who is a guard was 4-14 on field goals , 3-9 on 3 pointers , 0-2 on free throws to go along 2 rebounds, 2 assists , 11 points. Cayden Boozer who is Cameron Boozer’s twin brother who is a freshman who is a guard was 3-6 on field goals , 1-3 on 3 pointers to go along 5 rebounds , 3 assists, 7 points . Darren Harris who is a sophomore who is a guard was 0-3 on field goals , 0-2 on 3 pointers , 2-2 on free throws to go along with 2 points.

Though,

Duke 76-61 win saw it share of injuries as well!

The injuries were to Caleb Foster who is a junior who is a guard who was 2-6 on free throws , 1-3 on 3 pointers to go along with 1 rebound , 5 points before exiting, leaving game with foot injury in 2nd half. Patrick Ngongba II who is a center who is a junior who before the final regular season game of 2025-2026 regular season between Duke, North Carolina got underway was ruled out with right foot injury was seen in walking boot while his teammate Caleb Foster was seen in a walking boot following him swiping North Carolina guard Seth Trimble in first half.

What does that mean?

It means it’s next man up mentality for Duke heading into postseason with Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Charlotte this upcoming week with NCAA Tournament to follow! It means Cayden Boozer who is Cameron Boozer’s twin brother who is a guard who was 3-6 on field goals 1-3 on 3 pointers to go along with 7 points , 5 rebounds, 7 assists is going to have to step up. It means Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore who is a guard who was 4-14 on field goals , 3-9 on 3 pointers to go along 2 rebounds , 2 assists is going to have to step up. It means Darrin Harris who is sophomore who is a guard who was 0-3 on field goals, 0-2 on 3 pointers, 2-2 on free throws to go along with 2 points.

According to ESPN App

Following the injury to Caleb Foster Duke’s 76-61 win over North Carolina to close out 2025-2026 regular season Saturday night in Durham Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer shared his thoughts on injuries to Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II by saying Health going into the NCAA Tournament is the priority,“It just is. And the ACC Tournament, we want to be ready to go. But look, I can tell you this: I’ll be shocked if both of them (Ngongba and Foster) are playing next week. I’ll tell you that much. But our plan is, how can we get as healthy as possible for two weeks for now?”

According to Chip Alexander, Shelby Swanson’s News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article314964088.html

Duke is going to prepare to play in Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Charlotte starting Thursday March 12, 2026 in quarterfinals where they’re matching up with either 8th seed Florida State or 9 seed California.

Duke played both California, Florida State once during 2025-2026 regular season!

On Wednesday January 14, 2026 Duke beat California 71-56 in Berkely California Duke tipped off their West Coast trip with 71-56 win Wednesday night at California in Berkely California.

Where?

On the hardwood at Haas Pavilion!

As Duke who is ranked 6th in the week 10 AP Top 25 Poll tipped off their west coast trip with 71-56 win at California Wednesday night Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Nikolas Khamenia scored 21, 17, 10 points.

Cameron Boozer who is a freshman who is a forward was 9-16 on field goals, 0-3 on 3 pointers , 3-5 on free throws to go along with 13 rebounds, 3 assists.

Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore who is a guard who was 6-15 on field goals , 4-13 on 3 pointers , 1-3 on free throws to go along with 1 rebound , 1 assists , 1 steal , 3 blocks.

Nikolas Khamenia who is a guard who is a freshman was 4-9 on field goals , 1-5 on 3 pointers , 1-1 on free throws to go along with 4 rebounds.

As a team Duke was 28-62 on field goals for 45 %, 7-32 for 22 % on 3 pointers was 8-17 on free throws for 47 % while defensively Duke held California to 19-52 for 37 % on field goals to 5-23 for 22 %

According to ESPN App

With the win at California on Wednesday night .Duke improves to 16-1 overall 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference is leading the way in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings!

https://theacc.com/standings.aspx?path=mbball

Following Duke tipping off their West Coast trip with 71-56 win at California Wednesday night Cameron Boozer who is a freshman who is a forward was 9-16 on field goals, 0-3 on 3 pointers , 3-5 on free throws to go along with 13 rebounds, 3 assists shared his thoughts by saying That was a great defensive performance from us. We needed a game like that,”

“Starting the year we were one of the best teams in the country in effective field goal percentage, so we just needed to get back to that.”

Following Duke tipping off their West Coast trip with 71-56 win at California Wednesday night Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore who is a guard who was 6-15 on field goals , 4-13 on 3 pointers , 1-3 on free throws to go along with 1 rebound , 1 assists , 1 steal , 3 blocks shared his thoughts by saying We tried to play five men on a string -- just let the ball pull you,”

We stayed solid.”

Following Duke tipping off their West Coast trip with 71-56 win at California Wednesday night Duke Head Coach shared his thoughts on his team, Cameron Boozer about the remainder of the West Coast trip with traveling to Stanford who they ‘re opposing Saturday in Stanford California by saying how to sustain the defensive intensity, the defensive awareness has been a point of emphasis for us Cam has been so consistent,We rely on him for a lot. Probably was one of his worst first halves he’s had all year and I knew he was going to respond. He controlled the boards, his playmaking, his paint attacks, and he’s really mature with his approach.”

According to Harold Gutmann News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article314291264.html

Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore guard for Duke has a nickname!

His nickname is Showtime Slim because of his lean slender physique!

Isaiah Evans scoring career 28 points helped 6th ranked Duke top Florida State 91-87 Saturday in Tallahassee.

Where?

On the hardwood!

As Isaiah Evans scored a career high 28 points in Duke’s 91-87 win at Florida State Saturday he was 8-17 on field goals , 6-17 on 3 pointers 6-6 on free throws to go along with 3 rebounds , 1 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks .

According to espn app

With the win Duke improved to 13-1 overall 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference is now leading the way in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.

Following Isaiah Evans scoring career high 28 points helping 6th ranked Duke top Florida State 91-87 Saturday in Tallahassee Isaiah Evans who scored a career high 28 points in Duke’s 91-87 win at Florida State shared his thoughts on Florida State by saying “They came to play,We’re one of those teams that teams get up for and obviously they’re at home and they want to protect their home court. I think they’re a good team and both teams came to play today.”

Following Isaiah Evans scoring career high 28 points helping 6th ranked Duke top Florida State 91-87 Saturday in Tallahassee Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer shared his thoughts on Isaiah Evans scoring career high 28 points helping 6th ranked Duke top Florida State 91-87 Saturday in Tallahassee by saying “With him, it’s only a matter of time,”

Though,

Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer also shared his thoughts on his team following 6th ranked Duke’s 91-87 win Saturday at Florida State by saying “I thought our guys made some really great plays,”Winning on the road in the ACC is not an easy thing to do, and I’m just proud of our team for figuring it out.

According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article314030645.html

Duke, California or Duke Florida State is going to tip-off at 7:00pm on Thursday from Spectrum Center home of NBA’s Charlotte Hornets!

The game is going to be televised on ESPN or ESPN 2!

Though,

Who is commentating the game is to be determined!