You know that feeling when everything seems like it’s lining up perfectly—only for it to slip through your fingers at the last second? That was Duke’s Final Four run this year. With Cooper Flagg leading the charge and Jon Scheyer finally molding the program into his own post-Coach K era, it felt like something big was happening. A sixth national title? Totally within reach. But after a gut-punching loss to Houston, the energy around the program flipped. What looked like a launching pad turned into a crossroads. And now, one decision is getting a lot more attention.
This offseason is shaping up to be one of the biggest shakeups in recent Duke history. Cooper Flagg—the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and National Player of the Year—is unlikely to return. So are fellow freshmen Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, who are both expected to join him in the pros. Veteran transfers Sion James and Mason Gillis are out of eligibility. Even Tyrese Proctor and Isaiah Evans are weighing whether to stay or go. But here’s where it gets interesting: Caleb Foster isn’t going anywhere.
Foster’s season was kind of all over the place. He started out strong, then lost his spot to Sion James. At times, he wasn’t even in the rotation. But his name is the one that keeps coming up when fans—and analysts—look back at that Houston loss.
ESPN Radio’s Tim Donnelly didn’t hold back when he shared his thoughts, and many Duke fans might agree. “I think Duke may be the reigning national champions if Caleb Foster had played more in the second half of their loss against Houston in the Final Four. He played really well in the first half and brought some kind of angry, defiant energy. In the second half, he wasn’t used much, and I think they needed some of that,” said Donnelly.
It’s hard to argue with that. Foster might not have lit up the scoreboard—he averaged just under five points per game—but his presence mattered. He brought grit. Energy. Defense. Leadership. All the stuff you don’t generally see on a stat sheet. And in the final eight minutes against Houston, when Duke blew a 14-point lead, that’s exactly when they could’ve used someone like him on the floor.
Caleb Foster: A return with regret?
Now Foster’s coming back, and he’s clearly not done yet. “Growing up, it’s always been a dream of mine chasing championships here at Duke, that has not changed at all. And I’m excited now that I’ll be coming back for my junior year to keep going and keep pursuing to get that national championship number six.”
Sounds great, right? There’s a lot of heart in that statement. But there’s also a bit of what-if energy in the air. Like—what if he had just played more when it mattered most?
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And again, Donnelly didn’t hold back: “He could go to an ACC team and be their leading scorer without having to fight that hard for it. But instead, he’s returning. He’ll compete, he’ll improve, and there’s no guaranteed role for him next year. Duke’s bringing in another top-ranked recruiting class.”
That reality makes it a tricky return for Foster. While his loyalty to the program is commendable, next season won’t offer any guarantees. Duke’s 2025 class—though recently bumped to No. 3 nationally after five-star Shelton Henderson decommitted—remains stacked with elite talent. Scheyer continues to reload quickly.
Interestingly, the class still features top-tier names. The Boozer twins are headlining, with Cameron Boozer earning praise as one of the most polished forwards in high school basketball. His brother Cayden adds backcourt firepower, and Nikolas Khamenia brings versatile frontcourt depth. All signs point to another deep, competitive roster—one where Foster will again have to carve out his place.
Whether his return becomes a redemption arc or a cautionary tale—only time will tell. But the stakes at Duke have never been clearer.
The post Cooper Flagg’s Teammate Likely to Regret Duke Return as ESPN Analyst Calls Out Jon Scheyer’s Major Final Four Blunder appeared first on EssentiallySports.
