THE DUKE Blue Devils were at their ruthless best again on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Virginia Cavaliers by 18 points in the NCAAM at John Paul Jones Arena.

The Blue Devils moved to an impressive record of 23 wins and three losses as they continue to build towards March with plenty of momentum. Looking like the best side in it, Duke once again showed why it takes plenty of stopping in any match thanks to a star-studded roster and impenetrable style of play.

The result was essentially decided in the first half, with the Blue Devils storming out to a big lead and holding a 14-point buffer at the main change on the back of 43 points in the first 20 minutes of play. Although the Cavaliers lifted their output in the second half, it was not enough to cut into the deficit, as Duke remained on top en route to another big win.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be casting an eye over how the key players performed in the match, as some of the NCAAM’s best and brightest continue to display their craft on a nightly basis.

Duke Blue Devils (80) def. Virginia Cavaliers (62)

Blue Devils

#2 Cooper Flagg

The consensus number-one pick for the 2025 NBA Draft delivered yet another standout performance in the win over the Cavaliers. The guard-forward is clearly the best player in his draft class and did a bit of everything once again to lead the Blue Devils to victory. His ability to score off the dribble at his size was on display once again, pouring in 17 points on 8/16 shooting from the field.

Although Flagg went 0/3 from behind the arc, he was still able to use his explosiveness to get past the defence and finish at the basket, while his jumpshot was as smooth as ever from mid-range, making him an unpredictable defensive assignment. He crashed the glass with 14 rebounds, with 12 of those coming on the defensive end as he started plenty of transition plays for Duke. Flagg did only post the two dimes, but one of those was a clever dish off that allowed Patrick Ngongba II to throw down an energetic slam.

Flagg was his typical active self on the defensive end, recording two steals and two blocks in another marvellous two-way showing. The likely top pick is rarely beaten off the dribble and can recover if his opponent gets a step on him. It was the kind of performance fans and experts have come to expect from Flagg as his NBA draft stock remains the best in the business.

#3 Isaiah Evans

Although Evans is likely to be a late second round pick if selected in the NBA Draft at this stage, his performance against Virginia would have done his selection chances no harm, as he delivered an extremely efficient scoring showing off the bench. The guard made every post a winner with an equal game-high 17 points on 6/7 shooting from the field in an eye-catching display. The best part of his game was his ability to knock down shots from range, splashing home five triples on six attempts and boosting his NBA value as an off-ball shooter.

#5 Tyrese Proctor

It was not the most productive display from the Aussie point guard, but the bones of his game were still there, showing a solid balance of scoring and passing as his Blue Devils bested the Cavaliers. Proctor posted a decent seven points on 3/7 shooting from the field, which included a triple that showcased his improvement as a shooter over the past 12 months. The best part of his game is his creativity with his passing, and the Australian delivered another four assists, making life easier for his teammates with pinpoint passes that further demonstrated his elite vision and execution.

#7 Kon Knueppel

Another projected top-10 pick for the Blue Devils, Knueppel was again amongst the best with another productive showing in a win for Duke. One of the best pick-and-roll players in the draft class, Knueppel used solid screens from his teammates to create space for himself and get to his spots. He poured in baskets from all three levels, and was a constant threat from behind the arc with three made triples on six attempts, which is one of his biggest strengths as a player. He finished the match with 17 points (5/12 FG) and seven boards in another strong showing.

Cavaliers

#4 Andrew Rhode

It was a tough night at the office for the Cavaliers overall, but Rhode’s effort cannot be questioned as he fought tooth and nail to keep Virginia in the contest. A balanced showing, Rhode’s game was tireless, overcoming a tough coverage from the Blue Devils to ensure his side was much more competitive in the second half. He posted 15 points (the equal most of any Cavalier) on 5/10 shooting from the field and 2/4 shooting from downtown to go with five rebounds and five assists as he shouldered much of the offensive load for Virginia against a quality outfit.