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The postseason outlook for No. 1 Duke took a major hit Tuesday when coach Jon Scheyer confirmed that start line guard Caleb Foster suffered a fracture in his proper foot within the Blue Devils’ 76-61 rivalry win in opposition to North Carolina on Saturday. Foster had surgical procedure Sunday morning and is out for the “foreseeable” future, Scheyer advised reporters.
Duke completed the common season 29-2, securing the ACC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed within the convention Match. However the harm to Foster removes a key veteran piece from the lineup simply because the postseason begins this week in Charlotte.
The harm additionally places the provision of Duke’s start line guard in critical doubt for the NCAA Match.
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Foster was injured late within the first half of Saturday’s recreation at Cameron Indoor Stadium. After swiping at a driving Seth Trimble and trying to chase down a unfastened rebound, Foster instantly stopped and crouched close to midcourt earlier than signaling to the bench that he wanted to come back out.
He walked gingerly to the locker room earlier than halftime and didn’t return to the ground. Foster later appeared on the bench throughout the second half sporting a strolling boot on his proper foot.
Concern about Foster’s standing surfaced instantly after the sport when Scheyer mentioned he could be “shocked” if the junior guard might play within the ACC Match. Tuesday’s replace confirmed the seriousness of the harm and left his NCAA Match timeline unsure.
Foster has performed a gradual position within the backcourt for the Blue Devils this season. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 8.5 factors, 3.6 rebounds and a pair of.8 assists whereas capturing 44.2% from the sphere and 40.4% from 3-point vary.
Duke can also be managing one other foot problem in its frontcourt. Middle Patrick Ngongba II will miss the ACC Match with lingering foot soreness, however Scheyer is hopeful he shall be obtainable for the NCAA Match.
Ngongba had been coping with the harm getting into Saturday’s recreation and didn’t go well with up in opposition to North Carolina. The 6-foot-11 sophomore has emerged as an essential defensive piece for Duke this season, offering rim safety and switchability whereas additionally contributing as a pick-and-roll choice offensively. Ngongba is averaging 10.7 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per recreation whereas connecting on a team-high 60.2% of his photographs from the ground.
What it means for Duke, who steps up
Unexpectedly, Duke feels very younger. Seven of the top-eight gamers on this rotation are actually underclassmen. Fortunately, Cameron Boozer performs like he is 28, not 18, however Foster was the regular veteran within the room who linked Duke’s lineups collectively by taking part in rock-solid protection, avoiding turnovers, cashing open 3s and attacking lengthy closeouts.
With out Foster, Duke will seemingly shift freshman Cayden Boozer into the beginning 5. Duke will get much less capturing however extra pure playmaking with Cayden Boozer on the ground in comparison with Foster. Cayden Boozer is simply 15-for-51 (29%) on 3s this 12 months, so the onus shifts much more onto Dame Sarr to proceed to knock down open 3s when defenders swarm Cameron Boozer and shadow sharpshooter Isaiah Evans.
One regarding pattern to observe is that when Cayden Boozer and massive man Patrick Ngongba are on the ground collectively, Duke has shot simply 26.9% from downtown this 12 months in 198 minutes in opposition to Quad 1 and a pair of competitors, per CBB Analytics. It is sensible, proper? Defenses aren’t apprehensive about Cayden Boozer as a shooter, and Ngongba is not a reliable pick-and-pop large man, to allow them to shrink the ground and hyper-focus much more on Evans and Cameron Boozer.
Jon Scheyer clearly has some tinkering to do with Choice Sunday looming.
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