Duke heads into the ACC Tournament as the team to beat, having already claimed the regular season crown. But as they make their way to Charlotte, the Blue Devils are facing some significant challenges.
The most pressing issue is the injury to starting point guard Caleb Foster, who may be sidelined for the rest of the season after fracturing his right foot in a showdown with North Carolina. Adding to their woes, starting center Patrick Ngongba is also out due to right foot soreness.
These setbacks are set to test Duke's depth. Cayden Boozer is expected to step up in the backcourt, with Darren Harris and Nikolas Khamenia likely to see increased minutes off the bench.
In the frontcourt, the absence of Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, who suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier in the year, leaves Duke with limited options beyond Maliq Brown. Brown, the ACC’s Sixth Man and Defensive Player of the Year, will now take on a starting role.
Ufochukwu, a transfer from Rice, had shown promise in his limited appearances before his injury. At 6-foot-11, he provided much-needed size, despite his modest playing time. With Ngongba and Brown as their primary big men, Duke's rotation is thinner than they'd like.
Throughout the season, Duke has mostly relied on a nine-man rotation, trimming it to eight for critical matchups like their victory over Michigan. However, with Foster and Ngongba out during the second half against UNC, Coach Scheyer had to tighten the lineup even further, using just seven players, with Cameron Sheffield and Jack Scott stepping in only during the final moments.
Looking ahead, Ngongba is expected to return for the NCAA Tournament, allowing Scheyer to utilize an eight-man rotation despite Foster's absence. But in the immediate ACC Tournament, managing three games in as many days with a limited squad poses a real challenge, particularly with Brown and Cameron Boozer as the primary big men.
The strategic decision for Duke might be to conserve their key players like the Boozers, Brown, Isaiah Evans, and Dame Sarr, focusing on the bigger picture of reaching another Final Four. With options dwindling, Scheyer must carefully navigate the tournament to ensure his team is ready for the challenges ahead.