The Duke Blue Devils are about to start their NCAA Tournament campaign this Thursday. A bit of good news for the Blue Devils is that they might be able to count on Patrick Ngongba to participate in the Big Dance from early on. He picked up a right foot injury in early March after a game against NC State.
While he was initially considered doubtful for the tournament-opener against Siena on Thursday, a recent update by coach Jon Scheyer has changed the outlook of his injury. He might be ready for the opener, and even if he’s not, he would likely be ready for the second game.
“He’s been progressing,” Scheyer said via ‘The Field of 68.’ “I think it’s very unlikely that he plays tomorrow. We’re going to keep taking it day-by-day… He’s itching to play, but we’re not quite there for tomorrow just yet.
Ngongba is the third-best scorer on the team with 10.7 points per game, while also recording 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Duke is also without Caleb Foster, who suffered a fractured foot and won’t be able to return until the Final Four.
Jon Scheyer on Cameron Boozer Making the All-America 1st Team
If the Duke Blue Devils have one player to fill in the scoring gap left by Ngongba and Foster, it has to be freshman Cameron Boozer. Boozer is the undisputed leader of the team, as a recent nod by the Associated Press confirms, making him a First Team All-American.
Of the player receiving such an important honor, Scheyer shared his thoughts on Wednesday.
“He’s all about his teammates,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said of Boozer, who was the AP’s National Player of the Week twice during the season. “He’s not about numbers. He’s about winning. And I think when your best player’s that way, it becomes contagious, and it has a big effect on the rest of the group.”
Boozer is averaging 22.5 points (ninth in the country), 10.2 rebounds (13th in the nation), and 4.2 assists per game at the moment.
The No. 1 seed Blue Devils will open up their Big Dance participation against the Siena Saints on Thursday at 2:50 pm ET in Greenville, South Carolina.
Also Read: Cameron Boozer Stats Today – How Did Duke Star Perform in Close Win vs Florida State Seminoles As Jon Scheyer’s Team Reach ACC Tournament Semifinals?
Read More: Duke vs Siena Injury Report: Latest on Patrick Ngongba II, Antonio Chandler Ahead of NCAA Tournament First Round
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
