Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Reveals Starters for Round of 32 Battle Against Baylor

Duke basketball is sitting 24-1 this season with its primary starting five.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

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Duke Blue Devils

Even without the services of freshman phenom Cooper Flagg and junior forward Maliq Brown, the 2024-25 Duke basketball squad captured the program's second ACC Tournament title in three years under Jon Scheyer's command. But Flagg returned to action for the No. 1 seed Blue Devils in their Round of 64 blowout win over No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary's in Raleigh's Lenovo Center on Friday.

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Flagg drew the start against the Mountaineers, despite being only eight days removed from spraining his ankle in the Blue Devils' ACC Tournament opener. And considering the 18-year-old didn't experience any hiccups, it's no surprise he's back in the starting five for Duke's NCAA Tournament East Regional Round of 32 bout versus No. 9 Baylor at 2:40 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS).

About two hours ahead of tipoff between the Blue Devils (32-3) and Bears (20-14) in Raleigh, both teams reported their starters.

Duke will roll out its most common bunch (24-1 this season as the starting five): graduate guard Sion James, junior guard Tyrese Proctor, freshman forward Cooper Flagg, and freshman center Khaman Maluach. The Blue Devils' lone loss with these starters came on the road at the hands of Clemson in early February.

Meanwhile, Baylor is employing a four-guard lineup: freshman Rob Wright, freshman VJ Edgecombe, redshirt junior Langston Love, and graduate Jalen Celestine, along with fifth-year forward Norchad Omier. The Bears' former four-year Duke basketball guard, Jeremy Roach, comes off the bench.

ALSO READ: Blue Devil Head Coach Enjoys Duke's 'Workmanlike Performance'

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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