David Hale
Multiple Authors
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duke will open the NCAA tournament Thursday with out large man Patrick Ngongba II, who continues to recuperate from a foot damage, placing some added stress on star freshman Cameron Boozer.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore was listed as out Wednesday evening on the pregame availability report.
Speaking earlier Wednesday, Duke coach Jon Scheyer stated Ngongba was “very unlikely” to see motion within the Blue Devils’ tournament opener in opposition to Siena and recommended Ngongba may miss the weekend.
“He’s been progressing … but think it’s very unlikely that he plays [Thursday],” Scheyer stated. “We’re taking it day by day. He’s itching to play, but we’re not quite there just yet. … We’ll do everything we can to get ready for Saturday and go from there.”
Ngongba is averaging 10.7 factors and 6 rebounds per sport this season, however he hasn’t performed since March 2. Scheyer has repeatedly stated Ngongba has made good progress however admitted Wednesday it has been tough to sketch out a transparent timetable for his return.
“It’s not a setback,” Scheyer stated. “It’s not just anything where you can say two weeks and you’re back, 12 days and you’re back. You have to take it step by step with what he’s doing. Everything is going in a good direction, but I think the comfort that we want him to feel is not quite there. So that’s something we can only know day to day.”
With Ngongba and guard Caleb Foster (foot) out in the course of the ACC tournament final week, Duke has been compelled to work with a seven-man rotation, and Scheyer stated he is involved in regards to the lack of depth. Moreover, the Blue Devils have gotten artistic in designing lineups, together with utilizing Cameron Boozer extra on the 5, significantly after some early foul bother for Maliq Brown.
The gambit paid dividends, at the same time as Boozer struggled together with his capturing within the tournament last in opposition to Virginia, forcing defenses to maneuver an enormous man out towards the perimeter and opening up alternatives for second-chance factors for the Blue Devils. Duke had 21 offensive rebounds within the win over Virginia.
“Pat gave us and will continue to give us as we get him back is just the interior scoring,” Scheyer stated. “It’s important. His rim protection is valuable. Then end of the day, Cam, he just has to slide over to play some more in that spot, where he hasn’t done that as much this year. I think we found some really good lineups that can be really tough to guard when we do that.”
