With Patrick Ngongba expected to return for the NCAA Tournament, Duke’s main question in Charlotte this week centered on whether freshman guard Cayden Boozer could lead the offense in Caleb Foster’s absence, as Foster is projected to miss at least until the Final Four.
After a shaky showing against Florida State in the ACC quarterfinals, doubts lingered about Duke’s ability to make a deep tournament run without Foster. But Boozer rose to the occasion in the semifinals and finals, guiding the Blue Devils to victories over Clemson and Virginia, securing the ACC Tournament title, and locking in the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.
Boozer scored 16 points in each game and delivered his season-best all-around performance against Virginia on Saturday. Playing all 40 minutes, he added five rebounds and four assists as Duke edged the Cavaliers 74-70.
Head coach Jon Scheyer was full of praise for Boozer’s impact. “Honestly, I thought Cayden completely carried us in that first half—the way he ran the show, scored, defended, really did everything,” Scheyer said. “To play 40 minutes against Virginia while they pressed the whole game was just incredible.”
While Cameron Boozer’s standout freshman season has often drawn the spotlight, Cayden has been a steady rotational contributor, though not quite matching the expectations of his 5-star arrival in Durham. Still, Scheyer and the coaching staff always believed Boozer could deliver when it mattered most, and he proved that against both Clemson and Virginia.
“We had complete confidence that Cayden was ready to step up and take things to the next level,” Scheyer said. “He was born with that confidence and competitiveness.”
Boozer’s strong showing should give Duke faith in its ability to compete without Foster in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils beat two tournament-caliber teams in back-to-back games without him or Ngongba.
Ngongba’s anticipated return will provide a major defensive boost. Even if he isn’t ready for the first weekend, Duke appears capable of navigating the early rounds, though his presence will only strengthen the team.
In Charlotte, Duke displayed championship-level resilience, playing hard, competitive games, and doing what was necessary to win. That toughness, combined with Boozer’s emerging confidence and leadership, bodes well for the Big Dance.