‘A big asset’ for Duke basketball: Why Trevor Keels’ role is important for Blue Devils
If Virginia coach Tony Bennett’s wish would have come true, Trevor Keels would be preparing for a home game Wednesday night in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Instead, Keels is traveling for the next ACC game of his freshman season as No. 7 Duke plays at Virginia Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Back in September 2019, the Cavaliers were still basking in the glow of the national title won five months earlier when Keels, a five-star guard from Paul VI High School in Fairfax, Va., made his official campus visit to Virginia.
Having offered Keels a scholarship in February 2019, Bennett and the Cavaliers were hot to land him.
Duke didn’t offer Keels a scholarship until December 2019, two months after his campus visit to UVa.
Yet, last April 2, Keels committed to the Blue Devils over Virginia and Villanova.
It’s a good thing for Duke that he did.
A starter in Duke’s first 17 games before he missed three games with a right leg injury, Keels has averaged 12 points, four rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Of late, since he returned to play following that January injury, Keels’ ability to calm his team with his ball handling and passing, as well as his perimeter defense, has the Blue Devils on a four-game winning streak.
Yes, Keels has improved his own scoring, reaching double figures in five of Duke’s last six games including a 25-point game when the Blue Devils won 82-64 at Clemson on Feb. 10.
But it’s more than that. His eight assists in Duke’s 88-70 win over Florida State caught coach Mike Krzyzewski’s attention. It wasn’t just the number, but how Keels achieved them.
“He doesn’t just make a pass from the 3-point line,” Krzyzewski said. “Because of his physicality and strength, he gets within 12 to 15 feet and even into the lane.”
It’s all about driving and kicking while occasionally hitting a shot of his own. That’s how the 6-5, 221-pound Keels makes Duke’s offense thrive.
He became aware of that even more both during the three games he missed last month and in conversations with Duke’s coaches.
“Watching film a lot,” Keels said, “I’m seeing that when I’m driving, I bring a lot of people. So the kicks are there.”
Yes, a 52.6% shooter from the field during Duke’s current four-game winning streak, Keels hits just enough shots to keep defenders honest. That gives him the opportunity to pass the ball to open teammates for even better shots, like lobs to 7-1 center Mark Williams for dunks or kick outs to sharpshooting forward A.J. Griffin for a 3-pointer.
Previously this season, Duke used ball screens to free Keels up for driving and dishing. Now, he’s making those moves in the normal flow of the offense with or without a screen.
“He likes doing it,” Krzyzewski said, “and it’s a big asset for us.”
Keels’ game was on an upswing in mid-January before he injured his right calf muscle during a 79-78 overtime loss at Florida State on Jan. 18. In the game prior to being injured, Keels produced 12 points and nine assists when Duke beat N.C. State, 88-73.
After sitting out three games, Keels returned Jan. 31 when Duke won 57-43 at Notre Dame. He played 26 minutes that night, hitting just 1 of 8 shots but collecting four assists.
He came off the bench again five nights later at North Carolina, producing 11 points with two assists in Duke’s 87-67 win.
He was playing but he wasn’t yet 100% healthy then. But the leg has improved.
“Coming back to first play at Notre Dame, it was still bothering me,” Keels said. “At UNC it was still bothering me. So you know just keep pushing to 100%. I feel like it’s getting there, so just keep playing. We’ve got the best trainers. They take care of me before the game, after the game.”
Duke has four regular-season games left, including consecutive road games at Virginia, Syracuse and Pittsburgh over the next seven days. The Blue Devils (23-4, 13-3 ACC) are in first place in the ACC standings so the next three games will go a long way toward determining whether or not they can finish first for the first time since 2010.
Keels’ play thus far has Duke in position to accomplish that goal. His contributions going forward could take the Blue Devils to an even higher level of play.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 1:29 PM with the headline "‘A big asset’ for Duke basketball: Why Trevor Keels’ role is important for Blue Devils."