With all of the constant chatter surrounding the impact of the Blue Devils’ three marquee freshmen—Jahlil Okafor’s consistent dominance in the post, Tyus Jones’ late-game heroics in key moments and Justise Winslow’s athleticism on both ends of the floor—it might seem as if the No. 4 team in the nation features only a group of immensely talented youngsters. After all, a rookie has led Duke in scoring in 16 games this season, and together the trio of starting freshmen accounts for half of the Blue Devils’ total points.
But the real heart and soul of this Duke squad is Quinn Cook—the lone senior of the eight scholarship players remaining. The captain's leadership was on full display Wednesday night.
After a quiet first half in which he didn't record a point and missed all four of his field goal attempts, Cook erupted for 17 points in the second half as the Blue Devils held off Georgia Tech for a 72-66 victory. The Washington, D.C., native hit 6-of-10 shots in the second half, combining a flurry of drives with a smooth shooting stroke to tally bucket after bucket.
When the going got tough and it looked as if the Yellow Jackets were about to take the lead, Duke’s captain answered the bell. Georgia Tech cut the Blue Devil lead to a single point with just less than eight minutes remaining, but Cook responded with back-to-back layups. The senior sliced through multiple defenders and finishing with his left hand to put some distance between Duke and the Yellow Jackets.
Cook was there to ice the game too, securing the victory by scoring six of the Blue Devils’ last eight points. He went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute, calmly swishing each one through the net to squash any last hopes Georgia Tech had of mounting a comeback.
The captain’s clutch performance wasn’t lost on head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who praised Cook’s ability to put together such a strong finish after one of his weaker first-half outings.
“What he did in the second half was spectacular,” Krzyzewski said. “Because it wasn’t going that way and then he’s able to turn it around. He showed a lot experience doing that and probably that was a big message to send to his teammates as a leader.”
Although Cook’s contributions in the box score were vital—he also chipped in three rebounds and four assists without committing a turnover—it is the impact he has on his teammates that really makes him special for the Blue Devils.
Duke has gone through more highs and lows in the past 10 days—Krzyzewski’s 1,000th win, a razor-thin loss at No. 8 Notre Dame, the unprecedented dismissal of guard Rasheed Sulaimon from the team and a monumental win at then-No. 2 Virginia—than most teams will throughout the course of an entire season, making Cook’s role as the elder statesman even more important on a roster with four freshmen.
And by all accounts, Cook has filled that role admirably. He met with his teammates following Sulaimon’s dismissal and reminded them of how they need to stick together, instilling a confidence in the remaining eight players that they can still get the job done and win big games—just like they did Wednesday.
“He’s always been a great leader since day one. Every day he shows up and he’s the leader, he’s the rock of our team,” Jones said. “Now with everything going on, he’s just pulled us together and told us ‘We’re okay. We can’t let it be something that holds us back. We have eight guys and we’re going to make it work, regardless.’ He’s just assumed the leadership role, and been a great leader like he always has.”
Always one to be animated on the court and pump up the Cameron Crazies, Cook is the unquestioned vocal leader of the team. His aggressive on-ball defense Wednesday night set the tone for a defensive performance that held the Yellow Jackets to less than 40 percent shooting from the field in the second half.
At one point, Cook’s hard-nosed intensity inspired an emphatic floor slap by all five Blue Devils on the floor—bringing to mind memories of old Duke teams that thrived on the spirit and intangibles that Cook brings to the floor.
Despite his passion on the court, Cook is able to step back and be a level-headed team leader when the situation requires it. His lead-by-example demeanor inspires his teammates to raise their own levels of play.
“You look at him and you see the emotions on his face, and you just draw strength from that. He’s definitely the vocal point of our team, and he’s the key to everything,” sophomore Matt Jones said. “To see your lone senior captain really get into the game and make plays like he did, it makes you want to elevate your game to another level.”
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