Duke's Tournament Hopes Face Challenge Without Caleb Foster
In Greenville, S.C., Duke basketball is gearing up for its NCAA Tournament opener against Siena, but they'll be without a key player. Caleb Foster, a junior who has been pivotal for the Blue Devils, will miss his fourth consecutive game.
Foster's absence stems from a fractured foot sustained during the regular season finale against UNC on March 7. Following surgery on March 8, Coach Jon Scheyer confirmed Foster's absence for the "foreseeable future."
Scheyer hasn't completely ruled out Foster's return this season, but for that to happen, Duke would need to make a deep run in March Madness. "I think the reality of it is we'd have to advance to a Final Four," Scheyer remarked, leaving a sliver of hope alive for fans.
The latest update from Scheyer came on March 14, after Duke clinched the ACC Tournament title. "Caleb is going to be a little while still," Scheyer noted, though he mentioned Foster is progressing well.
Adding to Duke's injury woes, Patrick Ngongba II is also sidelined. Ngongba hasn't played since March 2 due to right foot soreness. Both Foster and Ngongba are navigating their recoveries with knee scooters and protective boots, missing Duke's open practice ahead of their clash with Siena.
Foster's impact on the court has been significant, starting nearly every game before his injury and averaging 8.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He notably dropped a season-high 20 points in a win against Louisville on January 6.
As Duke prepares to face 16-seed Siena at 2:50 p.m. ET on CBS, they'll need to rally together in Foster's absence, leaning on their depth and resilience to keep their championship dreams alive.