Blue Devil Country

Jon Scheyer: Duke Basketball Gem 'Changed Team Dramatically'

Maliq Brown hasn't missed a beat in rejoining the potent Duke basketball rotation.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball forward Maliq Brown
Duke basketball forward Maliq Brown | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

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Duke Blue Devils

Duke basketball transfer addition Maliq Brown has wasted no time reminding folks of his impact after sitting out four outings due to a knee injury. In his first game back, Saturday night's 87-70 home victory over archrival UNC, the 6-foot-9, 222-pound fearsome defender needed only a few seconds of action to come away with his first of two momentum-boosting steals.

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And it took zero ticks for the 21-year-old key reserve to announce his first appearance for the No. 2-ranked Blue Devils (20-2, 12-0 ACC) in Wednesday night's 83-54 road victory over the Syracuse Orange (10-13, 4-8 ACC). As soon as the former two-year Orange forward and reigning All-ACC Defensive Team selection checked into the contest, he deflected the home team's inbounds pass.

Brown posted six points, eight rebounds, one assist, three steals, one block, zero turnovers, and only two fouls across 22 minutes on the floor in his first trip back to the JMA Wireless Dome.

"Maliq has changed our team dramatically," third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer said after watching his high-powered group extend its winning streak to 16 games and improve to 7-0 in true road contests. "I mean, Maliq is the ultimate teammate. He's incredibly unselfish.

"He's been everything we could ask for and more.

"And he's not gonna blow you away with his scoring, but that's not what he does. He's a menace on the defensive end. His passing. His energy. You know, he led us in rebounding tonight."

He's now averaging a team-high 1.6 steals while ranking third on the squad with his 4.6 boards per game.

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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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