Duke's journey through the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament was nothing short of remarkable, especially considering they were without key players like their starting point guard and center. The Blue Devils showcased resilience, advancing through the first weekend of March Madness with minimal contributions from Patrick Ngongba II.
Caleb Foster made a notable return against St. John’s in the Sweet 16, but the Elite Eight matchup against UConn proved to be a different beast.
Foster and Ngongba were back in action, albeit not at full strength. Ngongba saw more minutes than usual due to Maliq Brown’s back spasms, while Foster contributed 14 minutes off the bench. Both players struggled to find their rhythm against Dan Hurley’s well-oiled UConn machine.
Hurley’s offense thrives on intricate off-ball movement, with every player being a scoring threat. This put immense pressure on Duke’s defense.
Coach Scheyer attempted to shield Cameron Boozer by assigning him to UConn’s point guard, who typically moves less off the ball. However, Caleb Foster found himself navigating a maze of screens, a tough task given his recent return from a foot injury.
Offensively, Foster’s struggles were evident. He ended the game scoreless, with two assists and three turnovers. During his time on the court, Duke’s turnover rate spiked to a staggering 35.8 percent, and their offensive efficiency plummeted.
Ngongba, meanwhile, faced the challenge of guarding UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. Despite not being fully fit, Ngongba’s presence added offensive pressure as a lob threat, boosting Duke’s offensive rating. However, defensively, the team faltered, with a defensive rating that highlighted their vulnerabilities.
In terms of game impact, Duke was outscored by six points during Ngongba’s minutes and five during Foster’s. When both were on the floor together, the team struggled significantly, reflecting in their net rating.
At full strength, Duke had the potential to compete with the likes of Arizona and Michigan, who are set to clash in the Final Four. The Blue Devils’ second-half collapse against UConn was a bitter pill to swallow, underscoring the impact of their injury woes.
As Coach Scheyer heads into the offseason, he faces the task of addressing the shortcomings that led to back-to-back disappointing tournament exits, despite the stellar performances from talents like Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer. The criticism will be there, but so too should be the recognition of the challenges posed by an injury-riddled roster.