3 Key Duke Players to Watch in March Madness

It's every basketball fan's favorite time of the year. The NCAA Tournament is here, the brackets are set, and we are awaiting the tip-off for the most exciting few weeks in the basketball calendar.

The Duke Blue Devils are looking for their sixth national championship and their first one since 2015. As a four-seed, they have a mountain to climb as they are considered a long shot with +3000 odds to win it all. They need to get the most out of these three players if they want to go on a deep run.

3. Tyrese Proctor

After a very promising freshman season, the expectations were sky-high for Tyrese Proctor in his second season at Duke. He hasn't quite had the breakout season many were hoping for, but he still established himself as one of the most important players for the Blue Devils.

Proctor's offensive numbers aren't eye-popping as he is averaging 10.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. His shooting numbers, however, have shown significant improvement as he hits 44.1% from the field, and 36.5% from three.

He is also the lead ballhandler for the team as he initiates the offense and puts his teammates in positions to succeed. Only 1.3 turnovers per game while averaging almost four assists per game is impressive, especially for a 19-year-old point guard.

However, the Australian playmaker's calling card is the defensive end. His offensive improvement is nice, but his defensive ability is his bread and butter. He has good length for his position, great foot speed, and basketball intelligence, making him an excellent point-of-attack and on-ball defender. Considering all the high-end scoring guards Duke is likely to face in the NCAA Tournament, Proctor's ability to shut them down will be a huge factor in how far the Blue Devils go.