Duke's Reload: Why McCain and Foster Are the Keys to a Deep March Run
The Post-Flip Impact
Losing out on Cooper Flagg to Maine Academy was a gut punch, no question. Fans felt it. Scheyer felt it. But let's be real, Duke still pulled in the nation's No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 2024, according to 247Sports, with five five-star prospects. That's not exactly slumming it. The bigger story right now isn't who they missed, but who's stepping up and who's coming in, especially with the transfer portal still humming.
Flip, Tyrese Proctor, and Jeremy Roach are all gone. That's a ton of experience and playmaking walking out the door. Proctor, for instance, had 4.6 assists per game last season. You don't just replace that overnight. This team is going to look a lot different next year, and the guard play is where the real questions lie.
McCain's Leap and Foster's Fit
Here's the thing: Jared McCain's decision to return was enormous. He showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman, dropping 30 points against James Madison in the NCAA Tournament. His shooting, 41.4% from three, is elite. He needs to take a massive leap in his sophomore year, not just as a scorer but as a true floor general. If he can consistently run the offense and reduce his turnovers – he averaged 1.5 per game – Duke will be in a much better spot.
And then there's Caleb Foster. He got hurt last season, missing the final 13 games with a stress fracture in his foot. Before that, he was showing real promise, averaging 7.7 points and 2.4 assists in 18 games. With Roach gone, Foster has to be ready to share point guard duties with McCain. His defensive tenacity and ability to get into the lane are going to be crucial for this team, especially when they face physical Big Ten or Big 12 opponents in March. Frankly, I think Foster is going to surprise a lot of people if he stays healthy.
Duke's incoming class is loaded with talent like Khaman Maluach, the 7-foot-2 center, and Isaiah Evans, a dynamic wing. But college basketball in March is often about guard play and veteran leadership. This team needs McCain and Foster to be those guys, distributing the ball, hitting timely shots, and locking down on defense. Without them performing at a high level, all that five-star talent might struggle to gel when it matters most.
My bold prediction: If McCain and Foster both play 30+ minutes a game and average double-digit scoring, Duke makes the Elite Eight. Otherwise, it's another early exit.