Inside Duke’s Lightning-Fast 5-on-0 Drill — How Cayden Boozer’s Split-Second Decision-Making Could Be the Secret Weapon That Transforms the Blue Devils’ Offense This Season
Durham, N.C. — In the heart of Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Duke basketball history is etched into every wooden panel and roaring chant, preparation for the upcoming 2025 NCAA season is in full swing. For head coach Jon Scheyer and his Blue Devils, this preseason isn’t just about fitness — it’s about building the mental sharpness and offensive chemistry that separates contenders from champions.
This year, the focus is on one player: Cayden Boozer, the freshman point guard and son of Duke legend Carlos Boozer. The younger Boozer has already made headlines as one of the top recruits in the nation, but it’s his mastery of a deceptively simple drill — the 5-on-0 — that’s turning heads and hinting at a possible game-changing season for Duke.
The Drill That’s More Than a Warm-Up
The 5-on-0 drill might look mundane to a casual observer — five players executing offensive sets without defenders. Traditionally, it’s used to build muscle memory for ball movement, spacing, and shot rhythm. But at Duke, it’s become a proving ground for Boozer’s elite decision-making.
In recent practices, Boozer has been running the set at lightning speed. The moment the ball touches his hands, his eyes scan the floor, reading imaginary defenses in an instant. His passes are sharp, perfectly timed, and always delivered to the right spot — often into a teammate’s shooting pocket, allowing for a quick, in-rhythm release.
That level of precision doesn’t just look good in practice. It forces the entire offense to play faster, sharper, and more connected — the exact pace Scheyer has been preaching since the offseason.
Coach Scheyer’s Vision for a Faster Duke
“If you want to play fast, you have to practice fast,” Scheyer told reporters after a recent workout. “What Cayden’s doing with the 5-on-0 sets — the speed, the reads, the unselfishness — it’s exactly the mindset we need to run teams out of the gym.”
This philosophy aligns with Duke’s broader strategy for the 2025 season: blend the shooting efficiency of veteran guards like Tyrese Proctor with the explosive athleticism of incoming freshmen. Boozer’s ability to connect those elements could be the missing link that transforms Duke’s offense from good to unstoppable.
Teammates Are Taking Notice
Proctor, entering the season as one of Duke’s vocal leaders, was quick to praise the freshman floor general.
“He’s already seeing the game two steps ahead,” Proctor said. “When your point guard can process the floor that quickly, everyone else has to raise their level — because the ball’s coming fast, and it’s always in the right spot.”
The ripple effect of Boozer’s quick decisions is already visible in scrimmages. Wings are cutting harder. Bigs are sealing earlier. Shooters are set before the ball arrives. The result? A fluid, almost effortless offensive rhythm.
Why This Matters for March
History shows that Duke basketball often finds its competitive edge in small, meticulous details that pay off months later in the NCAA Tournament. While a 5-on-0 drill in October may seem insignificant, the habits built here — fast reads, perfect spacing, and constant ball movement — are exactly what win games against elite defenses in March.
For Boozer, it’s more than just running plays without a defender. It’s about controlling tempo, dictating flow, and becoming the on-court extension of Scheyer’s vision.
As Duke prepares for another ACC title run and what it hopes will be a deep tournament push, one thing is certain: If Boozer’s split-second decision-making continues to sharpen in these “simple” drills, the Blue Devils might have found their secret weapon — and opposing defenses might find themselves gasping to keep up.
