Brandon Ingram
The stat line:
Thursday vs. Oregon: 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting, five rebounds, three assists in 40 minutes
The good: Although sophomore Grayson Allen struggled against Oregon’s tall and athletic lineup, Ingram relied on his size to shoot over smaller defenders and create shots of his own. As he has done throughout his freshman campaign, the Kinston, N.C., native displayed his ability to make contested shots around the rim and knock down midrange jumpers. He was especially effective in the first half during which he scored 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting and helped the Blue Devils enter the locker room down just 36-31 at halftime.
In the second half, Ingram scored seven straight points during one stretch and became almost the only source of offense for Duke. After making just 50 percent of his free throws in Duke’s first-round matchup against UNC Wilmington, Ingram was more consistent against the Ducks, converting four of his six free throws.
The bad: As the game against Oregon progressed, the 6-foot-9 forward was unable to finish layups after absorbing contact and drawing fouls from multiple defenders. Ingram also had an opportunity to lead the Blue Devils back in the closing minutes, but couldn't find the touch from beyond the arc. The freshman's missed 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:19 to go—which could've cut the lead to seven— clanked off the rim and effectively ended the game.
The bottom line: Ingram’s three 20-plus point performances in the NCAA tournament boosted his NBA draft stock. Ingram—who is projected to be a top-two pick in this year’s NBA draft—is widely expected to forego another season at Duke and declare for the NBA.
Overall, Ingram—the third-ranked recruit in the 2015 ESPN 100— fulfilled, if not exceeded, preseason expectations. The ACC Freshman of the Year and second team All-ACC honoree finished the season averaging 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and two assists per game. Perhaps equally important was the way Ingram fought back after a tough start to the season, which included three consecutive single-digit scoring performances in nonconference play. Ingram adjusted to the physicality of the college game and appears set to take his talents to the NBA.
Honorable mention: Although sophomore Luke Kennard contributed just 13 points and hit just a single triple in Duke's season-ending loss, the freshman was efficient from the field, converting six of his 12 shots. The Franklin, Ohio native also led the Blue Devils on the glass with a career-high 11 rebounds. With Allen still mulling whether to make the jump to the NBA, Kennard's play offered encouragement for the future of Duke's backcourt.
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