- Shooting 81.3% from 3-point range through NCAA Tournament’s first two rounds
- Leads all Sweet 16 players with 13 made 3s since ACC Championship
- Mechanical adjustments and mental reset reversed 14-shot cold streak
Tyrese Proctor’s March evolution has become Duke’s not-so-secret weapon. The Australian guard’s 13-for-16 three-point barrage against Baylor marked his third consecutive game with six-plus makes from deep, a scoring tear that coincided with Duke’s run to the East Region semifinals. His shooting split (67.9% on 28 attempts) since the ACC Tournament final reveals a player who solved his mechanics mid-playoff pressure.
Proctor’s resurgence defies conventional slumps. After missing 14 consecutive three-point attempts spanning seven games in February and March, the junior worked with assistant coach Will Avery to diagnose balance issues in his release. It wasn’t about overhauling my shot,Proctor explained. Just locking in on footwork and trusting the muscle memory.The results speak volumes: Three straight games with 20+ points for the first time in his collegiate career.
Analysts note Proctor’s diversified shot diet as a key factor. Against Baylor, he exploited defensive closeouts with stepbacks (4 makes), transition catch-and-shoots (3), and pump-fake relocations (2). This versatility forces opponents to guard him tightly beyond the arc, creating driving lanes for freshman phenom Cooper Flagg. Proctor’s +19.3 net rating during Duke’s 7-game win streak underscores his two-way value.
The turnaround carries regional significance. Facing Arizona in Newark—a 90-minute drive from Duke’s campus—Proctor’s perimeter threat could neutralize the Wildcats’ size advantage. Arizona allows opponents to shoot 34.1% from deep (134th nationally), a vulnerability Proctor exploited against similarly ranked Baylor (32.8% 3PT defense). His 7-for-8 performance versus the Bears marked the best single-game percentage (87.5%) by any player this tournament.
Teammates credit Proctor’s situational awareness. He’s reading switches like a quarterback now,noted Kon Knueppel. If they drop bigs in pick-and-roll coverage, Tyrese makes them pay before the rotation comes.This tactical growth aligns with NCAA tracking data showing Proctor’s release time has decreased by 0.2 seconds since February—critical against Arizona’s top-20 shot-blocking defense.