Duke Basketball: Blue Devils need more production from Javin DeLaurier

The Duke Basketball team heavily relies on its freshman stars, but the Blue Devils need more production out of junior captain, Javin DeLaurier.

This year was supposed to be the season that Javin DeLaurier took the next step, but that has yet to happen in the 17 games Duke has played this year.

DeLaurier looked to be on the verge of a breakthrough when Marques Bolden had three very poor performances to start the preseason during the Duke Canada Tour. DeLaurier seemed to seize the opportunity to be the starting big man on the Duke team and be the veteran leader on the floor.

More from Ball Durham

Mike Krzyzewski opted to start Bolden in the first game against the Kentucky Wildcats and every game until December 8 against Yale.

It was then DeLaurier who was placed into the starting lineup and continued to be in the starting lineup until last Monday against the Syracuse Orange.

While it wasn’t expected for DeLaurier to make much of an impact scoring wise this season with the offensive talent Duke has on its roster, he was supposed to be an athletic body on the defensive side of the ball to replace the traditional big in Bolden.

Duke switches everything on defense and when DeLaurier is in the game, he consistently struggles on the perimeter and seems to always be in foul trouble as he is trying to catch up to guards as they make their way into the paint.

In the latest game against Virginia on Saturday, DeLaurier picked up five fouls in just seven minutes of game action, the second time he has fouled out in a game this season. The other was against San Diego State in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.

DeLaurier has ended a game with four fouls, four times this season and in three of those game he did not play more than 12 minutes. The only game where DeLaurier picked up four fouls and played over 12 minutes was against Yale when he logged 19 minutes.

No one can knock DeLaurier’s hustle, heart, or leadership for this Duke team. When he is on the floor, he gives 110% and that is what an upperclassman and a captain should do in the Duke Basketball program.

For Duke to reach that next level Javin DeLaurier just has to be more efficient in terms of not getting into foul trouble and it’s possible, we’ve seen him do it last season and he has the capabilities of being a great player.

On the season, DeLaurier is averaging 4.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.7 fouls in just 14.7 minutes per game.

Javin DeLaurier and the rest of the Blue Devils will be back on the floor on Tuesday night on the road against the Pittsburgh Panthers at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN.

Home/Duke Basketball