As the race for a national championship gets underway, all eyes are on Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils. Gerry McNamara and his team will begin with a dance against No. 16 Siena in an attempt to pull off an upset, but we don’t see it happening.
Despite this, Duke’s situation has been somewhat compounded by injuries. Yes, Caleb Foster is still sidelined with a broken foot bone, and it is unlikely that he will make a comeback this postseason based on a recent photo of the ailment.
For Patrick Ngongba, who is gradually making a comeback, the same cannot be said. We are certain that he won’t be playing against Siena, even though there is additional hope that he will return shortly. Would he be prepared for the Sweet Sixteen or the second round? That is completely up in the air.
Is Patrick Ngongba playing for Duke vs. Siena? Star big man ruled out
With Ngongba out, Maliq Brown will be under a lot of scrutiny because he has performed admirably in his increased playing time. Naturally, 5-star freshman Cayden Boozer will take over at point guard and play somewhat of a floor general now that Foster is sidelined.
Boozer has shown much stronger in previous games, and now that the NCAA Tournament is begun, he will need to continue performing well. Fortunately for him, his brother Cameron is one of the top players in the nation and a true superstar for the Blue Devils.
Scheyer and company are expected to easily defeat Siena since Duke is a huge favorite. Even still, they aren’t really concerned about Round 1 because Duke has a difficult bracket and it hurts that he isn’t feeling well.
The ACC champions should have no significant issues this weekend, but Ngongba will be needed on the court once the Sweet Sixteen arrives. Duke’s pursuit of a natty could be significantly impacted if he is sidelined. Sitting Ngongba against Siena is the appropriate decision because the Blue Devils are being cautious with him. But might he come back next week? Cross your fingers.
