Top-ranked Duke took a blow Saturday – losing starting point guard Caleb Foster indefinitely due to a broken foot sustained during their season-finale win over North Carolina.
The Blue Devils will also be without their starting center, Pat Ngongba, for the ACC Tournament as he nurses a sore foot (the expectation is that he’ll be available for the start of the NCAA Tournament next week).
But if you think the Blue Devils are looking for sympathy ahead of their Final Four quest…think again. When we asked head coach Jon Scheyer about his team’s mindset heading into postseason play given the hit they’ve taken, he said his squad isn’t making any excuses and won’t flinch.
“Our guys are heartbroken for Caleb,” Scheyer said. “At the same time, you’re not going to see us make and excuses. You’re not going to see us flinch, because that’s what Caleb would want and that’s what we owe him.”
“For our guys there’s still an incredible belief in what we can do, how we can play and how we can win.”
Scheyer and the Blue Devils are no strangers to post season hiccups. 2025 number one NBA draft pick, Cooper Flagg, missed the final two games of last year’s ACC Tournament due to a sprained ankle. And Maliq Brown missed the last two games of last year’s ACC Tournament and the first two games of the NCAA Tournament with a dislocated shoulder.
Even without Foster and Ngongba, Duke was able to dominate the Tar Heels in the second half of their 76-61 win. Their first full test will take place Thursday night against Florida State in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
