Duke updates injuries to starters after near upset in NCAA Tournament

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Mar 20, 2026

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer said Pat Ngongba is returning to practice on Friday and there’s hope he’ll play in the NCAA Tournament game Saturday against TCU.

“I’m hopeful he’s gonna be available for tomorrow,” Scheyer said during a Friday press conference. “So we’ll see what he can do in practice today. I know he was itching to play (Thursday). Now he hasn’t done what he needs to do yet to return to play. But if everything goes well, we’ll see him back in there.”

Ngongba did not play in the NCAA opener Thursday against Siena as the Blue Devils, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAAs, went with a seven-man rotation in pulling out a 71-65 comeback victory over the No. 16 seed.

The Blue Devils were set to practice Friday afternoon at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

“He needs to practice,” Scheyer said. “He needs to just be on the floor and move the way that he needs to to be successful. He’s been ramping up and doing a really good job. We just want to make sure he’s feeling right to play at a high level. Not just to be out there, but to be him.”

Ngongba has averaged 10.7 points and six rebounds per game this season while making 60.2% of his shots from the field. He’s started 28 of the 29 games he’s appeared in this season for the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils (33-2).

“He’s a game changer for our team,” Scheyer said. “He’s one of the most impactful players in the country I think what he does is not something that — again, I’m sure there will be some plays that he hasn’t played in a little while. I hate to call it rust, but I’m sure some things that he has to work through. But end of the day, he just changes the dynamic of our team where other guys aren’t playing out of position as much. We’re able to get a better rotation.”

On Wednesday, the day before the tournament started, Scheyer left the door open for Ngongba returning in the second round.

“We’re going to keep taking it day by day. And again, he’s itching to play,” he said. “And we’ll do everything we can to get him ready for Saturday and go from there.”

Ngongba took part in pregame warmups but then was held out of the last regular-season game, March 7 against North Carolina in Durham. Guard Caleb Foster was injured in the first half of that game, and both players were in walking boots in the second half, watching from the bench as Duke won, 76-61.

Ngongba was still using a protective boot and utilizing a scooter to keep weight off that injured foot this week as the Blue Devils practiced and then played.

Foster’s return is more indefinite after suffering a fracture in his right foot in the UNC game. Scheyer had said Duke might have to reach the Final Four to give Foster that chance to get back on the court.

Ngongba, at 6-11 and 250 pounds, is the Devils’ best rim protector — he had a team-high 32 blocks — and averaged 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a game in his 29 games.

The Blue Devils (33-2) won the ACC Tournament with a seven-man rotation that often had 6-9 freshman Cameron Boozer playing the “5” and forward Maliq Brown in the starting lineup along with Isaiah Evans, Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer.