The Miami Hurricanes are eyeing the ACC title game, but they've got some hurdles to clear first. However, recent developments from Durham might just tilt the scales in their favor.
Duke's head coach, Jon Scheyer, delivered some tough news for Blue Devils fans. Starting guard Caleb Foster is sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a fractured right foot. Adding to Duke's woes, starting center Patrick Ngongba II will miss the ACC tournament due to foot soreness, although there's hope he'll return for the NCAA tournament.
These injuries are a significant blow to Duke, the tournament favorites, as postseason play kicks off in Charlotte.
Foster has been a key player for Duke, starting in 30 of their 31 games and contributing 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on average. Ngongba, another crucial starter, has been averaging 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.
For Miami, the path begins Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of the Louisville-SMU-Syracuse matchup. If they advance, a semifinal showdown awaits them against the victor from Virginia’s section. Duke, on the other side of the bracket, starts their journey with a Thursday quarterfinal at 7 p.m., setting up a potential championship clash with Miami.
Jai Lucas and his Hurricanes need to focus on their immediate challenges. They face a formidable quarterfinal opponent and potentially No. 2 seed Virginia, who finished an impressive 27-4 overall and 15-3 in ACC play. Plus, Louisville recently edged out Miami 92-89 in Coral Gables, so Thursday’s game is anything but a walk in the park.
Duke boasts the best record in the ACC at 29-2 and 17-1 in conference play, while Miami has made a remarkable turnaround from a 7-24 record last season to 24-7 this year. The stage is set for an exciting tournament, with Miami looking to capitalize on Duke's misfortunes.