A key player for the Duke Blue Devils’ ACC basketball game against Syracuse is out.

Despite missing a key reserve player, No. 2 Duke defeated Syracuse 83-54 on Wednesday to extend their winning streak to 16 games.

Mason Gillis, a 6-6 small forward who has played in every Blue Devils game this season, was ill and was unable to go. Gillis, who transferred from Purdue to Duke last summer, leads the Blue Devils (20-2, 12-0 ACC) with an average of 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds.

He played 14.4 minutes a game on average this season and made 36.4% of his three-point shots.

Player assessments following Duke’s decisive win over UNC:

RJ Davis disappears, and Cooper Flagg explodes. Player Assessments: Cooper Flagg blows up and RJ Davis fails in Duke’s resounding victory over UNC. On February 1, 2025, the Duke Blue Devils overcame their bitterest rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels, 87-70.

That night, individual efforts—rather than just the team’s superb attacking performance or strong defense—were what made the difference. Despite a spectacular effort by freshman sensation Cooper Flagg in his NCAA basketball debut, veteran RJ Davis did not live up to the hype.

Here, we examine the key players’ outstanding performances in this pivotal ACC match.

Cooper Flagg: A Rising Talent During this game, Cooper Flagg, Duke’s freshman star, was truly exceptional.

The 6-foot-8 forward’s explosive 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists nearly earned him a triple-double. Flagg had an undeniable impact on both ends of the floor, even though his stat line only partially captures this.

Flagg scored with a well-balanced mix of inside strength and outside skill. Early on, he dominated inside with his length and speed, scoring comfortably in the paint.

However, as the game went on, he made a few deep shots to keep the defense honest, and his three-point shooting proved to be just as effective. But maybe the most impressive aspect of Flagg’s game was his playmaking.

With seven assists, the rookie displayed his exceptional court vision, often threading the needle with precise passes that created easy baskets for teammates.