Cameron Boozer epitomizes difference between Syracuse and Duke
Cameron Boozer’s 22-point, 12-rebound double-double helped spark No. 3 Duke’s blowout win over Syracuse Monday. Courtesy of Logan Swanner | The Duke Chronicle
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DURHAM, N.C. — Moments after the final buzzer sounded, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach led Duke’s high-five line as they celebrated another win with the Cameron Crazies. They were all smiles, reliving their days leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four.
But the weight of the program no longer lies on their shoulders — that honor goes to Cameron Boozer. Unlike the trio, Boozer was much more even-keeled as the second-to-last person in line after the victory.
While his days playing for Duke may be numbered — just like they were for Flagg, Knueppel and Maluach before becoming top NBA Draft picks last year — Boozer is in the heat of ramping up to help the Blue Devils put a sixth banner in Cameron Indoor Stadium. It’s the same position every phenom like him has been in over the last decade.
“The atmosphere is great,” Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry said of what makes Cameron Indoor a difficult place to play, “but players make the place.”
Boozer is the latest example of that, which he reinforced with a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double that helped Duke (24-2, 13-1 Atlantic Coast) hand the Orange (15-12, 6-8 ACC) their worst loss of the Autry era. Come June, Boozer will likely become the eighth Blue Devil to be selected as a top-three pick in the NBA Draft since 2016.
It’s a stark difference from Syracuse, whose last top-three pick was Carmelo Anthony in 2003. Meanwhile, the Orange haven’t produced a first-rounder since Tyler Lydon in 2017 or a draft pick since Elijah Hughes in 2020.
What’s become a rarity in central New York is essentially a given annually in Durham.
“A lot of people take it for granted because it’s so regular, I guess, in a sense,” Cayden Boozer, Boozer’s twin brother and Duke guard, said of his brother’s performance postgame. “So I feel like people should start appreciating the dominance that he’s had this whole year.”
Boozer’s dominance has included leading all players nationally in EvanMiya’s Bayesian Performance Rating while averaging 22.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. So, 22 points and 12 rebounds could be interpreted as another night at the office, perhaps.
That production is something the Orange would yearn for. But as they head toward their fifth consecutive year missing the NCAA Tournament, it’s clear they haven’t had players capable of doing so.
Sure, homegrown talents like Donnie Freeman, Judah Mintz, Buddy Boeheim, Tyus Battle, Malachi Richardson and Lydon have had success in varying fashions. But compare that to players like Boozer, Flagg, Paolo Banchero, Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum and Brandon Ingram.
Without listing the endless differences in accolades, Duke has perennially been a top team in the country, while Syracuse has at best been fighting to be a bubble team over the last decade.
Even with Flagg, Knueppel and Maluach in the building, Boozer didn’t feel he was chasing anybody’s shadow. He just wanted to focus on the present.
“We’re just trying to get better every day,” Boozer said. “We do what we do every day, what we’re supposed to do, we’re gonna get exactly to where we want to be.”
William Kyle III was primarily tasked with guarding Boozer, and SU’s center credited the star freshman’s strength and fundamentals. But what stood out most to Kyle was how Boozer found his angles, which prompted the senior to say he’s never played against a player as talented in terms of doing so.
Autry said the Orange had a plan to attempt to contain Boozer, which he didn’t reveal, but he credited the 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman for his defense, distributing ability and prowess using his strength to get to his spots.
With the game well out of hand midway through the second half, Duke only needed Boozer on the court for 25 minutes. By the time the Blue Devils headed to the halftime locker room, he already had a double-double.
“This is what he does, and that’s the reason why he’s the leading candidate for National Player of the Year,” Cayden said. “This is what he does, night in and night out.”
On the other hand, Syracuse night in and night out is looking for any way to keep its season alive. SU still has chances, but it’ll need to be nearly flawless the rest of the regular season and in the ACC Tournament to have any chance to make March Madness.
Once upon a time, the Orange and the Blue Devils were seen on the same level in college basketball’s upper echelon. Nowadays, that statement couldn’t be further from the truth.
A major reason why is that one program nets players like Boozer every year, while the other is in desperate need of one.
