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Duke Basketball: Playing Joey Baker shows Coach K is all in on title run

By Kevin Connelly

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils reacts to a play against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils reacts to a play against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /
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Duke Basketball Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski has shown to the world that he is all in on winning another National Championship after playing Joey Baker on Saturday night.

Perhaps the most surprising development in Saturday’s win over Syracuse was Mike Krzyzewski subbing in Joey Baker in the first half.

Baker had not played at all this season and last saw game action on October 27 in an exhibition game against Ferris State.

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After reclassifying to join this year’s freshman class, the plan was to have Joey Baker redshirt this season and still have four years of eligibility remaining.

That plan has now been thrown out the window since Baker was inserted into Saturday’s game.

Compared to previous Duke teams, the 2018-19 Blue Devils are horrific shooters and it doesn’t take a person who has 1,124 career wins and five National Championships to realize that.

However, it does take a coach who has those many wins to realize that in order to get to the next level, Duke is going to need shooters on the floor and Baker might be the shooter this Duke teams needs.

Jack White has not made a 3-pointer since the comeback win over Florida State, missing 25 straight 3-pointers, a stat so bad it seems tough to accomplish.

Alex O’Connell picked a great time to have a career night, posing 20 points and was unconscious from 3-point territory, making five of his eight attempts.

While R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson are still working to develop a consistent 3-point shot, it’s Cam Reddish, Alex O’Connell, and now Joey Baker who are the best shooters on this Duke team and the Blue Devils will need all three to be able to knock down their shots down the stretch of the regular season and into March.

While it remains to be seen whether or not it was the right move to remove Joey Baker’s redshirt on February 23 when the team expects to get Zion Williamson back in the near future, Coach K has no more excuses to keep the freshman from Fayetteville, NC on the bench.

Using Baker shows that Coach K is all in on winning a National Championship this season and will do anything to try and find that perfect rotation.

Joey Baker’s eligible, so play him, and let him shoot.

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