Duke's journey into the NCAA Tournament is set to begin, but they'll likely do so without their towering center, Patrick Ngongba. The sophomore, who has been sidelined with right foot soreness, is "very unlikely" to make an appearance in the Blue Devils' opening game against the 16th seed, Siena.
The Blue Devils, sporting an impressive 32-2 record, kick off their tournament run on Thursday at 2:50 p.m. in Greenville, S.C. Ngongba's absence has been felt as he missed the regular-season finale against North Carolina and all three games in the ACC Tournament, where Duke still managed to secure victories.
Coach Jon Scheyer has been cautiously optimistic about Ngongba's recovery. "It's not a setback," he shared on Wednesday.
"Recovery isn’t a set timeline. It’s step by step.
Everything is progressing well, but he's not quite at the comfort level we want."
Duke is preparing diligently for their potential second-round matchup on Saturday, where they could face either No. 8 seed Ohio State or No. 9 seed TCU, assuming they advance past Siena.
Standing at 6-foot-11 and weighing in at 250 pounds, Ngongba has been a key player for Duke, averaging 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 blocks over 29 games. Without him, the Blue Devils' front line feels the pinch.
Maliq Brown, who has stepped up as the ACC’s Sixth Man and Defensive Player of the Year, has been filling in but has struggled with foul trouble recently. This has opened the door for freshman Nikolas Khamenia, who has seized the opportunity with increased playing time, scoring 32 points over three ACC Tournament games-a notable jump from his 28 points during the regular season.
Coach Scheyer highlighted Ngongba's contributions, stating, "Pat’s interior scoring and rim protection are crucial. We’re eager to have him back." As Duke navigates the tournament, they'll rely on their depth and adaptability to keep their championship aspirations alive.