Duke didn’t beat Florida State the way it might have wanted to, but this was an ACC win and that’s all that matters.
It was the type of game that demanded a buy-in from everyone on the floor, not just the guys everyone talks about.
The Blue Devils needed players willing to do the little things, and one of the biggest reasons that balance held was Dame Sarr.
For Duke, performances like that matter just as much as the final score. The rotation is still evolving, given how early it is in the season, roles are still being handed out, and games like this help the coaching staff figure out who can be trusted when the games get tough.
Sarr may not have filled up the box score with 13 points on five shots, but his impact was evident and something that needed to be pointed out.
After the game, head coach Jon Scheyer pointed to the bigger picture behind Sarr’s progress, adding how impressive he’s been since coming over from Europe.
“I think there’s just such a big adjustment going from Europe -- even if you’re playing at the highest level, which he was doing -- to go to college,” Scheyer said, per Matt Giles.
“And so, for him, he has had to really throw himself into working every day, focusing on what he’s really good at, which is his defense and activity. And I think he has really learned how to play to his strengths. Tonight was a great example of that. He gives us a different dimension that we probably don’t have [without him], with his athleticism and his ability to guard. I thought he was just a big-time competitor tonight. That was the main thing.”
Sarr isn’t being asked to be something he’s not, as Duke has many players who can do more than he can. Duke doesn’t need him to carry the offense or force plays, but it needs him to defend at a high level and hit open shots.
The transition from European basketball to the college game is tough. The game is different, the physicality is different, and more. However, for Sarr, it’s been very impressive to see what he’s been able to do.