Durham, N.C. — It wasn’t the final score that mattered most Saturday afternoon inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was the hustle plays — the floor burns, the dives, the extra efforts that define the Duke basketball standard.
In their first home game of the season, the No. 6 Blue Devils steamrolled Western Carolina, 95–54, in a game that was over almost as soon as it began. But head coach Jon Scheyer was more interested in how his team played than by how much it won.
“We have a first-on-the-floor mentality,” Scheyer said. “In the first half, we had three guys dive for the second game in a row. I love that.”
From the opening minutes, Duke’s energy level made the difference. Nikolas Khamenia knocked the ball loose from WCU’s Cord Stansberry, and both Cayden Boozer and Darren Harris skidded across the floor chasing the loose ball. Later, Khamenia saved a ball from going out of bounds, leading directly to a Duke bucket. On another possession, Cameron Boozer went to the floor to preserve a play, feeding Maliq Brown, who found Harris for a foul on a 3-point attempt.
Those gritty moments defined the Blue Devils’ afternoon far more than the lopsided box score.
Depth and Defense Take Over
Western Carolina, coming off an 8–22 campaign and a 31-point loss at Cincinnati to start its season, was overmatched from the tip. Duke, favored by 36 points, lived up to the billing, smothering the Catamounts with depth and defensive intensity.
“Our depth really showed,” Scheyer said.
That depth carried over from Duke’s season opener earlier in the week, when the Devils used a strong second half to defeat Texas 75–60 in the Dick Vitale Invitational. Against WCU, Duke’s defensive pressure never wavered.
“Whether we’re up 30 or down 10, we want to play the same way,” Cameron Boozer said. “We want to make every 50/50 ball an 80/20 ball for us.”
The Catamounts struggled to find any rhythm, shooting just 30.6 percent from the field and 4-for-26 from beyond the arc. They committed 14 turnovers and managed only six points in the game’s first 11 minutes, quickly falling behind 25–6.
“I’m impressed with Duke’s physicality and their attention to detail on the defensive end,” said Western Carolina head coach Tim Craft. “They really made it hard for us.”
The Boozer Show
Freshman forward Cameron Boozer led Duke with 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists — his second straight impactful performance to open his college career. After a scoreless first half against Texas, Boozer admitted frustration. On Saturday, he settled in early and built his game piece by piece.
He started with a turnover and a foul but soon found his rhythm, scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds by halftime. In the second half, he showcased his full offensive arsenal, hitting three 3-pointers — two from the top of the key and another from the corner — while also facilitating for teammates.
“I was OK. I can be better,” Boozer said afterward. “I feel like I’m not playing that well right now, but I’m still affecting the game in a lot of different ways.”
His composure, along with that of his twin brother Cayden, continues to impress coaches and teammates. Both Boozers play with a calm confidence beyond their years — an asset that will be tested when Duke faces tougher opponents later this season.
Cayden Boozer and Foster Find Balance
Jon Scheyer continues to tinker with lineups and rotations, and Saturday’s game provided an intriguing look: Cayden Boozer sharing the backcourt with junior Caleb Foster.
While Foster began the season as the starting point guard, the two guards complement each other well. Cayden Boozer brings a steadiness and a knack for organizing the offense, while Foster adds length, athleticism, and scoring ability.
Foster finished with nine points, six rebounds, and four assists after a quiet first half. Cayden Boozer added 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, demonstrating his versatility as Duke’s smallest player at 6-foot-4.
Late in the game, Cayden displayed his strength and instincts, ripping the ball out of a WCU player’s hands for a steal, then calmly hitting two free throws to cap the play.
Learning to Shoot Selectively
If there’s one area Duke still needs to polish, it’s shot selection — particularly from beyond the arc.
The Blue Devils attempted 32 three-pointers, making just 10. They started especially cold, going 3-for-17 in the first half. Even Cameron Boozer missed four of his first five attempts before finding the range later.
“I thought we settled so much,” Scheyer admitted. “With that said, if we have the open 3, we’ll take it all the time. But it has to be a fight-for-the-rim, fight-for-the-paint mentality. The 3s we get are even better the more pressure we put on the rim.”
Players like Isaiah Evans and Darren Harris have the green light from deep, but Scheyer wants his team to strike a balance between outside shooting and attacking the basket — especially with dominant interior options like Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II.
“Everyone in this locker room can make shots,” Cameron Boozer said. “But we’ve got to keep attacking.”
A Foundation Built on Hustle
Beyond the highlight plays and stat lines, Duke’s early-season identity is forming: a deep, unselfish team built on effort and defense.
Scheyer’s squad has embraced a “floor-first” mentality, diving for every loose ball and swarming opponents with relentless energy. It’s a tone-setter for a team loaded with young talent and lofty expectations.
Saturday’s win might not reveal how Duke will fare in March, but it did confirm one thing — this group knows how to play hard.
And for Scheyer, that’s a pretty good place to start.
