Part 1 of Split The Action’s coverage of Duke’s Elite Eight win over Alabama focused on the Blue Devils' defense, which delivered its best performance of the season. In Part 2, we turn our attention to Duke’s offense.

While the defense played a pivotal role in Duke’s victory over Alabama — holding the Crimson Tide to under 0.90 points per possession — the Blue Devils still needed to deliver quality on offense against one of the Top 25 defenses in the country. Despite not getting Cooper Flagg’s fastball, Duke still managed to score 85 points, scoring 1.16 points per possession.

Here’s a breakdown of how the Blue Devils achieved that, along with some additional insights from their Sweet 16 win over Arizona, when the offense posted 1.41 points per possession.

Flagg the initiator, Flagg the screener

Nate Oats assembled a roster this season with a great deal of size and length. Alabama regularly deployed lineups that featured three 6-foot-8 or taller players, including lineups with Jarin Stevenson (6-11, 215) as the de facto small forward. However, this roster didn’t have great positional size across the board. Despite the NBA-sized frontcourt, the Crimson tide still featured a pretty thin backcourt: Mark Sears (6-1, 190), Aden Holloway (6-1, 180) and Labaron Philon (6-4, 177). There’s a lot of talent in that trio, but it’s limited in terms of defensive versatility.

With 48.2 percent of its field goal attempts against Alabama coming at the rim, Duke went on to shoot 24-of-43 on 2-point attempts (55.6 2P%). Right from the jump, Duke made it a point to exploit its size advantage with its trio of powerful perimeter on-ball creators: Flagg (6-9, 205), Kon Knueppel (6-7, 217) and Sion James (6-6, 220). This approach remained a key component of the offense throughout all 40 minutes, with Flagg playing both roles in the pick-and-roll — as the ball handler and the screener — to exploit Alabama’s smaller defenders.

On the very first play of the game, Duke ran “Pistol” action with Flagg. James will initiate the play with a pass to Flagg on the left wing, then follow the action. As Flagg fakes a handoff back to James, Tyrese Proctor — defended by Sears (1) — will lift from the weak-side corner and set a back screen for Khaman Maluach.

Sears and Clifford Omoruyi (11) navigate the back screen: Sears tags Maluach on his basket cut, while Omoruyi recovers back, and then closes out to Proctor on the pop. Duke may have tried to steal a lob dunk or a pop 3-point here, but the Blue Devils are ready to shift into the play’s next progressions. First, Flagg will screen for Proctor, which Alabama doesn’t switch: Grant Nelson (4) drops and Sears stays clear of switching on Flagg. However, the next read features an inverted pick-and-roll, with Knueppel screening for Flagg.

Nelson goes under the screen and Philon (0) stays with Knueppel, leaving Flagg open for an uncontested 3-pointer. So, right from the outset, Alabama’s starting backcourt is tasked with defending three screens, two of which involve Flagg, and the result is an open 3-pointer for the best player in the country. Not an ideal start for Oats.

Now, inverted pick-and-roll with Flagg is really tough to defend — in part because Knueppel is such a skilled scorer and passer at his size. Moreover, the action requires an opposing guard to defend actions as a screen defender and risk switching onto Flagg, while also forcing an opposing power forward to navigate ball screens at the point of a attack, which may not be a natural lateral movement for some larger, bulkier defenders. Nelson struggled with this at times against Duke. That player must either fight through the screen or switch and try to stick with Knueppel popping out along the perimeter.

On the final play before halftime, Jon Scheyer calls for Duke to run its “Horns Clear” action. With Flagg initiating, Knueppel will lift up as if he plans to set another inverted ball screen, but he will instead slip or ghost that screen and cut to the left wing off a flare screen from Maluach.

As the defense is loaded up to handle another Flagg-Knueppel ball screen, Knueppel’s slip catches the defenders off-guard. Nelson and Chris Youngblood (8) get caught between a switch and fighting through to stick with their initial assignments. Regardless, it’s another blown coverage and Flagg is able to turn the corner and get downhill for an and-one finish.

This set has been really good for the Blue Devils down the stretch of the season, though they usually run it with one of the guards — James or Caleb Foster — initiating the action. However, Flagg will get his opportunities, too.

Here’s the same set against Florida State’s switch scheme, with Flagg initiating and Darren Harris running the inverted ghost action.

As Duke opened the second half against Alabama, Scheyer looked to pump water from the same well: more Flagg-Knueppel inverted pick-and-roll.

Nelson and Sears don’t switch the initial action, so Scheyer calls for Knueppel to screen again — this time, Flagg gets the switch with Sears. Flagg is able to chisel his way to the front of the rim, but Omoruyi (6-11, 250) does a nice job peeling over and applying a good contest.

This next inverted ball screen possession with Flagg and Knueppel comes later in the second half. Duke will start in its “Slice” formation as Knueppel and Flagg both clear to the right corner, emptying out the back side for a potential lob to Maluach — with Proctor setting another back screen.

Alabama forward Mouhamed Diabate (10) fights over Proctor’s screen, taking away the lob opportunity and forcing Duke to shift to its next progression: Flagg-Knueppel pick-and-roll. Knueppel sets the pick for Flagg and Sears switches out. As soon as Duke has that matchup, the four off-ball players clear to the left side and Flagg gets to work 1-on-1 in space vs. the smaller Sears.

The Blue Devils could poke at this matchup in more traditional fashion, too: using Flagg as a screener for Knueppel, Proctor or James.

In the early stages of the game, Duke looks poised to flow into an empty-side pick-and-roll in early offense with Knueppel and Flagg. With Flagg as a potential screener, Philon (0) applies aggressive ball pressure. However, Philon so tightly pressed up that Knueppel is able to easily step around him and attack downhill. Once again, Omoruyi rotates over to help at the rim, but Knueppel’s strength and craftiness, while playing off two feet in the paint, allow him to finish.

Down the stretch, it’s now Proctor and Flagg pick-and-roll. Alabama, desperate for offense, has its small-ball lineup on the floor: four guards and Nelson as the de facto 5. The matchups are already scrambled, but Flagg screens and pops with Sears defending him. Holloway sticks with Proctor, which leaves Sears on an island against Flagg, who takes him to the paint and scores.

This play also highlights the pressure Duke puts on opponents when Flagg handles the ball against a mismatch. If the defense chooses to send help and double, where does the help come from? Knueppel, Proctor and James are all 40-percent 3-point shooters, while Maluach is shooting over 80 percent at the rim this season, according to CBB Analytics. Flagg reads the floor with precision and makes smart decisions with the ball. If the defense sends another defender at him, he’ll find a teammate for an efficient.

Plus, Duke doesn’t need to get two defenders on the ball for Flagg to unlock his interior playmaking craft. Flagg can be used as a screener and on the short roll, too.

Here, Duke runs its Iverson series, with Proctor cutting across the top of the formation, and transitions into a step-up screen for James set by Flagg. Alabama looks to switch this screen with Nelson and Youngblood. However, because Flagg sets the screen underneath Youngblood, he gains inside leverage and quickly spins open toward the middle of the floor — putting Youngblood behind him and creating a passing window for James.

James hits Flagg with a pocket pass and he’s now in space going downhill, which is a big problem for Alabama’s defense. Sears and Philon are glued to shooters along the perimeter, so now it’s all on Omoruyi to handle an impromptu 2-on-1 opportunity for Flagg and Maluach. Flagg forces Omoruyi to slide over, creating a sliver of space at the rim for Maluach.

Flagg and Maluach are so good as a duo when it comes to this type of tic-tac-toe passing.

Kon and Khaman vs. Drop

There are four assister-scorer combinations on Duke’s roster this season with 30 or more successful connections, per CBB Analytics. James has assisted 35 of Flagg’s field goals, the most of any combination on the team, although the Flagg-to-Maluach combo isn’t far behind with 34. Flagg features in three of those four combos with 30 or more connections. The fourth pair is Knueppel and Maluach, who continue to work together as an excellent pick-and-roll partnership.

• Sion James and Cooper Flagg: 35

• Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach: 34

• Cooper Flagg and Tyrese Proctor: 30

• Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach: 30

While Alabama’s data-driven approach is often discussed on a broad, national level with a focus on their offense and tempo, the numbers also shape their defensive strategy. Oats aims to protect the rim and limit the number of kick-out 3-point attempts from opponents, which is why his base defense has the centers playing drop coverage against the pick-and-roll. This involves positioning themselves several feet below the level of the screen and sinking deeper into the paint as the ball handler begins to drive down the lane.

However, the pick-and-roll tandem of Knueppel and Maluach has cooked this season against drop. Maluach has 80 dunks (3.97 dunks per 40 minutes) through the first 38 games as he’s emerged as one of the most dangerous lob threats in college hoops. Meanwhile, Knueppel has the size and strength to play in these tight spaces, which he blends withs his floor vision and patience as a driver against drop.

When a ball handler attacks drop coverage, he or she should want to make a decision with the ball — to shoot or pass — at the last possible second. The ball handler will read the defensive center, who is tasked with occupying two spaces at once: corralling both the ball and the rim-runner. If the defensive center takes a step in the direction of the driver and there’s no weak-side tag on the player rolling the basket, it’s time for a lob. This is a delicate balance to navigate, but one that Knueppel can handle comfortably.

Scheyer and his staff are thoughtful about how they design pick-and-roll actions, though. Duke isn’t going to bring the ball up and just immediately launch into high ball screens. There’s more organization involved. It’s detailed. The Blue Devils will move their pieces around the floor and look to create some advantage before the primary action takes place, or space the court intentionally so they can snap into quick 2-on-1s against the drop.

On this after-timeout possession, the first of the game with Flagg on the bench, Duke runs its 5-out Zoom action for Knueppel. Maluach will initiate in the middle. The action starts with Mason Gillis setting a down screen on Holloway (2) for Knueppel, who will run out of the left corner. Knueppel sprints off the down screen and now the speedy Holloway is a step behind him as he enters into a handoff with Maluach. That’s the initial advantage bump.

Aiden Sherrell (22) is in drop coverage. As soon as Knueppel receives the handoff, Sherrell begins to sink further into the paint, aiming to keep a deterrent in front of the basket. Knueppel uses his size to shield off Holloway while Maluach runs the rim. As Knueppel approaches the restricted area, he wins this game of basketball “chicken” with Sherrell, who takes a half-step in his direction.

As soon as Sherrell angles his body toward Knueppel — and there’s no weak-side check-out with Nelson and Youngblood glued to Gillis and James, respectively — the scoreboard may as well add two more points to Duke’s total. The lob is coming.

There’s a nice wrinkle to this play from Duke with James cutting from the right wing to the left corner as Maluach starts to run the Zoom action (a down screen into a handoff) with Knueppel. As James cuts through, he pulls his defender, Youngblood, with him. This slight movement from James takes away a potential help defender against Knueppel’s drive. Instead of being in the gap to provide help at the nail, Youngblood is stationed in the opposite corner when Knueppel attacks the paint.

I refer to this play from Duke as “Stack Out Step” and it starts with the Blue Devils in their — you guessed it — Stack formation. The action launches with Flagg setting a brush screen to pop Knueppel out to the wing.

Maluach starts this possession in the right corner. After James passes the ball to Knueppel, Maluach will step up from the corner, with the intent of setting a ball screen for Knueppel. James will then cut to the left corner, creating a weak-side exchange with Proctor, who lifts up from the left corner to the left wing.

Now, the Blue Devils can launch empty-side pick-and-roll with Knueppel and Maluach, who screens Sears. Nelson is in drop coverage with Maluach rolling to the middle of the floor and Knueppel driving toward baseline. With Alabama’s three help defenders pulled to the opposite side of the floor, Duke gets to attack 2-on-2, though that scenario quickly shifts to 2-on-1 with Sears behind the play in rearview pursuit. Nelson doesn’t sink fast enough and he angles himself too closely to Knueppel, leaving a pathway to the rim wide open for Maluach.

As Knueppel goes into his gather, Nelson is almost fully committed to the ball. Once again, it’s a lob dunk.

Knueppel and Maluach have carved opponents up with this action all season, which I wrote about in early February. Here’s the same set against Georgia Tech’s drop coverage at the ACC Tournament.

From Duke’s home win over UNC this season: it’s more Stack Out Step against drop coverage with Knueppel and Maluach.

Later in the second half against Alabama, Duke runs the same half-court set. Youngblood, defending, Knueppel works aggressively to deny James the entry pass to the wing. James counters and lobs a pass over the top to Maluach, stepping up from the corner. Knueppel responds and sprints in the direction of Maluach, grabbing a handoff and launching the same empty-side ball screen. This time, though, Alabama switches the action — with Nelson taking Knueppel. The switch, along with the weak-side collapse, take away the lob to Maluach, but leave a slower defender on Knueppel. When Knueppel drives late in the possession, Philon leaves James to help Nelson. With two defenders on the ball, James makes a great read — cutting from the left corner.

According to CBB Analytics, Knueppel has assisted 46 rim finishes this season (nearly 44 percent of his total assists), which is tied with James for the second most on the roster. Flagg leads with 57 rim assists.

When Duke plays Houston on Saturday, these same looks won’t be available. The Cougars don’t use drop coverage as their base defense; instead, they aggressively hard hedge ball screens to force turnovers. This changes the calculus. Duke will need to create more side-to-side passing action to get its centers downhill on deep rolls. Ball handlers will have to make quicker decisions when the defense puts two on the ball, and the centers, along with Flagg, must be ready to make plays on the short roll.

Proctor in motion

As Duke reoriented its offense this season, while adding on-ball talents like Flagg, Knueppel and James, Proctor had to adjust his game. Proctor now spends less time on the ball, which frees him up for more catch-and-shoot 3-pointers (41.2 3P%) and connective passing opportunities. It’s a role that will look similar to his potential NBA future, working as an off-ball mover who knocks down 3s and keeps the ball pinging around the perimeter. He’s there to hit shots and maintain or build advantages through quick passes.

That said, the adjustment wasn’t an extraordinary one for Proctor. It’s not like he was in some heliocentric-creator role his first two seasons in Durham. That’s not how this program organizes offense, plus he spent plenty of time off the basketball, playing alongside guys like Jeremy Roach, Kyle Filipowski, Jared McCain and Foster. In fact, Proctor was really good when he got to play off the catch or be a link-up player, whether it was in the half court or on the break. Before Proctor even arrived at Duke, he showed a knack for these types of things while playing as a teenager with the Australian national team.

The change has slightly affected his numbers. After posting an assist rate of 21.0 percent combined over his freshman and sophomore seasons, that figure has dropped to 13.0 percent this season. Proctor also took a lot of 3-pointers in his first two seasons, with over 53 percent of his combined field goal attempts coming from beyond the arc. However, his 3-point attempt rate has ballooned to 60.5 percent this season.

Moreover, Proctor’s shot distribution has changed significantly from his freshman season, too. During the 2022-23 campaign, 66.6 percent of Proctor’s field goal attempts occurred either at the rim or from beyond the arc. He posted an effective shooting rate of 51.5 percent on those shots (at the rim or 3PA), which ranked in the 39th percentile nationally, according to CBB Analytics.

As a sophomore, those numbers increased: 73.2 percent of Proctor’s field goal attempts were either at the rim or from beyond the arc, with an effective shooting rate of 54.8 percent (61st percentile). Now, as a junior, 79.0 percent of Proctor’s shots are either rim attempts or 3-pointers — a significant jump from his freshman year — with an effective shooting rate of 61.2 percent (87th percentile).

Proctor isn’t a stationary shooter, though. Like Isaiah Evans and Knueppel, Proctor is a quick-trigger shooter who can fire off hard movement and with serious range. Duke incorporates these guys in actions together, using them to amplify the team’s 5-out and high-post initiation. It’s a lot to handle, and in the win over Alabama, Proctor’s off-ball movement was a major factor of Duke’s offense.

Moneyball shots, Duke’s “Slice” series

Here, Duke runs its go-to 5-out "Floppy" action. Proctor rejects the initial down screen from Maluach on the left side and cuts to the middle of the lane, where he meets Knueppel. This is where Duke sets up the single-double Floppy action. Proctor sets a brush screen for Knueppel, who then runs off a down screen from Maluach, while Proctor moves in the opposite direction, coming off a pindown from James.

Youngblood and Sears botch the coverage, with two guys going with James, who screens and dives to the rim, leaving Proctor all alone for an uncontested 3-pointer. This is the power of off-ball movement and having good guard screeners: the offense can scramble, confuse or create a full breakdown of the defense.

Later on in the first half, Duke puts Proctor in motion with screen-the-screener action out of its “Slice” series. The possession starts with Duke set up to run Proctor off of staggered down screens out of the right corner — from Maluach and James. Proctor, however, will refuse those screens and cut toward the lane. Maluach will lift to receive a pass from Flagg. As soon as Flagg passes to Maluach, he shuffles to right block off of a slice screen from Proctor.

Maluach rotates the ball to James, who spaces to the wing and has a good angle to throw a potential entry pass to Flagg. Instead, James looks left, where Proctor — after screening for Flagg — is ready to get a screen of his own from Maluach. Proctor curls the screen hard and Dioubate switches over to him. That switch prevents Proctor from curling all the way to the rim, but it also leaves Maluach wide open. Proctor throws the ball to the rafters and Maluach does the rest.

This play is particularly difficult to defend due to its pace and a series of quick screening actions that target multiple spots on the floor.

While Proctor curled the screen and got downhill against Alabama, he took advantage of another defensive breakdown when Duke ran the same set against Baylor. Proctor slice screens for Flagg and brings him to the right block. Quickly, Proctor then comes flat off the middle-third down screen from Ngongba, resulting in a wide-open catch-and-shoot 3-ball.

In the Sweet 16 win over Arizona, Duke ran the same Slice action multiple times. On this screen from Knueppel, the Blue Devils generate an easy cut finish in the post for Flagg, matched with the smaller KJ Lewis (5) — courtesy of a good entry pass from James.

On the very next possession, Scheyer dialed the same number. However, instead of swinging the ball to Proctor on the wing and looking for Flagg on the post-up or Knueppel on the curl, Ngongba decides to keep it himself. He attacks Tobe Awaka (30), an excellent veteran defender, and scores 1-on-1, drawing a foul in the process.

Working off the high post

While Proctor’s offense has become more 3-point-centric, he can still heat it up in the midrange. Those shots were available against Alabama’s drop coverage, too.

On this possession, Duke plays through Ngongba in the hight post. Foster enters the ball to Ngongba and cuts in the direction of Proctor. From this setup, Duke looks ready to run Zoom action (down screen into a handoff) with Ngongba at the elbow.

Before Foster can make contact with Holloway, defending Proctor, he splits down the lane. Proctor leverages that movement and sprints into the handoff. Ngongba sets a great screen, creating separation for Proctor with Holloway, and Sherrell is in drop coverage. Proctor has room and he uses it to rhythm into a pull-up 2-pointer.

A few minutes later, a similar setup unfolds. The ball is passed to Ngongba at the right elbow, while Foster and Proctor are involved in off-ball action. Once again, Foster runs toward Proctor, but instead of setting a down screen, he slips to the rim, using the gravity of Proctor’s movement to create space.

The Blue Devils have the defense lifted; all five Alabama players are at least one full step outside of the paint. This is a good read from Foster, darting into open real estate, and Ngongba — who has kept Duke’s high-post passing attack afloat as Maliq Brown deals with his shoulder injury — finds him for the cut layup.

Duke gets to more 5-out initiation with Ngongba on this possession. The Blue Devils start in their “L” series with Proctor zipping up the lane and then floating out to the left wing. Evans lifts from the corner and sets a little flare screen for Proctor, but that’s just dummy action to set up the primary read. Evans and Proctor spin to face one another and it looks as though Evans with set a re-screen (“Ricky”) pindown for Proctor. Knowing that Alabama wants to switch this 1-3 action off the ball, though, Evans slips the down screen, cuts between Philon and Stevenson (15) and receives a bounce pass right on the money from Ngongba.

Ngongba now has seven multi-assist games this season, including three assists against Alabama, which tied a career high he originally set against Illinois.

Flare Screens and Re-screens

One of the most effective designs in Duke’s half-court offense is an empty corner with a flare screen (a screen that takes a player away from the ball), which frees an off-ball cutter to move into the vacant space.

This set, which I refer to as “Down Flare,” is one of Duke’s go-to 5-out actions with the center spaced to the left wing. The play starts with Proctor coming off a down screen from Maluach on the left side of the floor. Foster will swing the ball over to Proctor and then follow his own pass. Proctor will then fake a handoff back to Foster, who cuts through to the right side of the floor, leaving the left corner unoccupied. As Proctor kicks to Gillis, Maluach lifts up to set the flare screen for Proctor, who has a lot of space to run into.

Proctor receives the pass from Gillis, keeps Philon on his hip and drives right at Nelson’s drop coverage. Nelson never stops the ball, though, so Proctor takes it right to the front of the rim.

Here’s another after-timeout play: Duke emerges in a Stack setup — with Proctor and Maluach bunched in the middle of the floor. Proctor will pop out to the left wing and receive pass from Foster, which he quickly flips back. As that happens, Gillis runs the baseline, cutting right to left and exiting the right corner. Maluach lifts up and sets a flare screen to send Proctor into that space. Stevenson does well to get over the screen, so Duke counters with an immediate re-screen: Maluach flips his hips and sets a down screen for Proctor. With Nelson in drop coverage and Maluach diving to the rim, which pulls in Stevenson, Proctor curls for an open jumper right at the nail.

Finally, Duke runs its Horns Clear action again, with Flagg on the ball. Proctor sets the ghost screen and slips, but Dioubate does a better job staying in front of Flagg, preventing the drive. However, Proctor remains in motion. After slipping the screen for Flagg, he comes off a flare screen from Maluach, followed by a quick re-screen, with Maluach setting another screen to bring Proctor back to the ball. Sears attempts to chase under the re-screen, so Proctor fades to the left wing and then drives downhill.

Sears likely gets away with a foul as he recovers to Proctor, but it’s a true "Ball Don’t Lie" moment when the loose ball finds its way to Maluach right at the doorstep of the rim.

Baseline Under

Last but not least, Duke’s baseline out-of-bounds plays hit against Alabama, with Proctor’s off-ball movement working to free other guys up.

On these baseline-under plays, Duke will often align in a triangle formation: three players in a line — with the 5 (Ngongba) as the low man nearest the ball — and the 4 (Gillis) spaced to the near-side slot.

The Blue Devils have a dozen different options out of this formation, but one of the longer-developing plays is what I refer to as the “Triangle Single Double.”

The play begins with Knueppel lifting up and setting a back screen (“Single”) for Gillis (the 4), who cuts to the left block and then spaces to the corner. With Gillis clearing out, Proctor is given the green light to cut, running off staggered screens (“Double”) from Knueppel and Ngongba.

Once again, two Alabama defenders — Holloway and Derrion Reid (35) — botch the off-ball switch. Reid switches to Proctor, but it isn’t communicated properly and Holloway stays with Proctor for an extra step. Knueppel is now open and he responds with a basket cut and a good find from Foster.

Here’s Duke running the same set against Louisville in the ACC Championship. Although on this play, Proctor comes free off of the double low screens, thanks to a good pick from Maluach.

The camera angle is a bit awkward here, but in the first half, Duke also ran the Triangle Single Double baseline under. Alabama switches Knueppel’s back screen for Flagg, placing Nelson on Knueppel. Proctor is covered coming off the double screens, which Alabama doesn’t switch, instead allowing Holloway to chase across. Foster lobs it to Knueppel to get the ball into play, putting Nelson in a tough spot as he has to defend the Knueppel-Maluach pick-and-roll at the point of attack.

The Tide get caught between ball screen coverages. Nelson fights over and then switches to Maluach while Sherrell is caught between switching out and drop coverage, gifting Maluach a free run to the rim.

Stay tuned later this week for a preview of the Duke-Houston Final Four matchup!