Duke Basketball Game: Patrick Ngongba II Very Unlikely for NCAA Tournament Opener, Scheyer Says
duke basketball game plans for Thursday’s NCAA tournament first-round matchup are shifting fast as No. 1 Duke prepares to face No. 16 Siena. At 9: 15 p. m. ET Wednesday, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer told reporters sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II is “very unlikely” to play, with the staff continuing a day-by-day approach. The Blue Devils are also expected to be without senior starting point guard Caleb Foster, who has been labeled out indefinitely after a fractured foot.
Duke Basketball Game injury status: Ngongba doubtful, Foster out indefinitely
Scheyer’s message Wednesday night was direct: Ngongba is close enough to be part of the daily conversation, but not close enough for Thursday. “I think it’s very unlikely that he plays tomorrow, ” Scheyer told reporters at 9: 15 p. m. ET Wednesday. “We’re going to keep taking it day by day. And again, he’s itching to play, but we’re not quite there for tomorrow. ”
Ngongba has been out since March 2 with lingering foot soreness and was seen on a knee rover with a boot on his right foot. His absence keeps Duke’s frontcourt rotation in a cautious holding pattern to open the NCAA tournament.
Meanwhile, the injury picture in Duke’s backcourt is clearer and more severe. Foster had surgery to repair a fracture in his foot suffered against North Carolina in the last regular-season game. Scheyer has labeled him out “indefinitely, ” and Duke is expected to be without him as the tournament begins.
Immediate reactions and what Duke changes on the floor
The strongest immediate reaction came from Scheyer himself, emphasizing patience with Ngongba’s recovery and the staff’s decision not to push him into the first-round game. The coach’s day-by-day framing also signals that Duke’s medical and performance staff will reassess based on how Ngongba responds in the short window leading into the next round.
If Ngongba cannot go, Maliq Brown is positioned to handle most of the minutes at center. Brown has started in Ngongba’s absence and has averaged 4. 8 points, 4. 9 rebounds, 1. 8 assists and 1. 9 steals. Brown was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, giving Duke an established defensive anchor even while the lineup is reshuffled.
At point guard, Duke has already made an adjustment with freshman guard Cayden Boozer starting in Foster’s place. The switch has been in effect through the ACC tournament, where Duke still managed to win the event despite both starters missing that stretch.
Quick context on Siena and the first-round matchup
Duke’s opponent brings its own storyline: Siena head coach Gerry McNamara led the program to a 23-11 record, the MAAC tournament championship, and the team’s first NCAA appearance since 2010. McNamara is also familiar to Brown, having been an assistant coach at Syracuse during Brown’s first two seasons.
Even with Duke managing recent absences successfully, the first round is the first real test of how far the rotation can stretch without full health—particularly if the tournament path demands deeper frontcourt depth later.
What’s next after Thursday
The next update on Ngongba’s status will hinge on Duke’s day-by-day evaluations following the opener, with Scheyer leaving the door open only in the sense that the team will keep reassessing. For now, the clearest expectation is that Duke proceeds into Thursday without him and continues leaning on Brown’s defense at center and Boozer’s start at point guard.
And as the duke basketball game tips off Thursday, Duke’s early tournament identity will be defined by how effectively it navigates these injuries while trying to keep its ceiling intact for the deeper rounds still ahead.
