3 BC Players Deserving of Duke’s Full Attention

With Duke eyeing its 10th straight win, the Blue Devils will need to keep an extra eye on these key Eagles

Jan 26, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer directs his team during the first half against the Louisville Cardinals at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images | Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

The Duke Blue Devils are coming off one of their most competitive games of the season. After a blowout home win over Louisville, Duke faced a tougher challenge on the road against Virginia Tech.

Against the Hokies, freshman sensation Cameron Boozer continued to build his case for National Player of the Year honors, posting a game-high 24 points along with eight rebounds and five assists. Boozer was highly efficient, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range.

Jan 31, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) controls the ball as Virginia Tech Hokies forward Tobi Lawal (1) defends during the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images | Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Boozer also received an unexpected boost from Maliq Brown. Brown delivered one of his best performances in a Blue Devil uniform, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. The outing tied his career high at Duke and marked the first time he attempted double-digit shots in a game.

Now, Duke will look to extend its winning streak to 10 games with a home matchup against Boston College. To do so, the Blue Devils will need to pay close attention to several key players for the Eagles.

Jan 31, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Maliq Brown (6) shoots a shot during the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images | Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Fred Payne

Jan 31, 2026; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles guard Fred Payne (5) reacts to his basket against the Virginia Cavaliers with guard Luka Toews (10) during the first half at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Payne has been at Boston College for three seasons and has steadily improved each year. After suffering an injury during his freshman season, he appeared in 30 games as a redshirt freshman and provided solid production off the bench.

This season, Payne has emerged as the Eagles’ leading scorer, averaging 15.2 points per game while shooting 41% from the field and 36% from three-point range. Against Virginia, Payne scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Donald Hand Jr.

Hand is another long-tenured Eagle who has developed consistently throughout his career. Like Payne, Hand missed his freshman season due to a season-ending injury and redshirted.

Jan 24, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Boston College Eagles guard Donald Hand Jr. (13) works against Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Braeden Shrewsberry (11) during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

After averaging just five points per game in his first full season, Hand made a significant leap the following year, posting 15.7 points per contest. This season, his scoring has dipped slightly to around 14 points per game, while his shooting efficiency has declined to 33% from the field and 22% from three-point range.

Despite the struggles, Hand has shown improvement in recent games. In the loss to Virginia, he recorded 20 points, four assists, and six rebounds, showcasing his all-around ability.

Boden Kapke

Boston College Eagles center Boden Kapke (33) boxes out Clemson Tigers forward Nick Davidson (11) Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After spending his first two seasons at Butler, Kapke transferred to Boston College and has taken on a larger role with the Eagles. He is averaging a career-high 9.5 points per game while shooting 47.5% from the field.

Kapke has also shown progress from beyond the arc, shooting 27% on two attempts per game, giving Boston College another scoring option to complement Payne and Hand.

With Cameron Boozer continuing to dominate and key contributors like Maliq Brown stepping up, Duke enters the matchup against Boston College with strong momentum. However, the Eagles’ trio of Payne, Hand, and Kapke present a balanced scoring threat that could challenge the Blue Devils if left unchecked. If Duke can maintain its defensive intensity and limit Boston College’s perimeter production, it should be well-positioned to secure its tenth straight victory.

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