Will Duke basketball have injured players for March Madness opener? The latest.

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer on Mar 18, 2026

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer said Wednesday that sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II is unlikely to play when the Blue Devils open NCAA Tournament play.

“I think it’s very unlikely that he plays tomorrow,” Scheyer said during a press conference Wednesday. “We’re going to keep taking it day by day. And again, he’s itching to play, but we’re not quite there for tomorrow.”

The Blue Devils, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAAs, open play Thursday against No. 16 seed Siena at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. It’s possible they could go with a lineup that again is missing Ngongba and guard Caleb Foster, two starters who have been sidelined with foot injuries.

Ngongba took part in pregame warmups but then was held out of the last regular-season game, March 7 against North Carolina in Durham, N.C. Foster was injured in the first half of that game, and both players were in walking boots in the second half, watching from the bench as Duke won, 76-61.

Ngongba was still using a protective boot and utilizing a scooter to keep weight off that injured foot on Wednesday as the Blue Devils prepared for their open practice.

“I think the comfort that we want in the foot is not quite there, and so that’s something we can only know day to day,” Scheyer said. “I can tell you that I think in [a] perfect world, he’d be playing tomorrow, but it’s not about anything other than he’s not quite ready to go. And we’ll do everything we can to get him ready for Saturday and go from there.”

Scheyer said last week that Foster had surgery the day after the UNC game for a foot fracture and would be sidelined indefinitely. He did not rule out a return in the NCAA Tournament and noted Foster was doggedly determined to return, but said Duke might have to reach the Final Four to give Foster that chance.

On Ngongba, Scheyer indicated he would be held out of the lineup during the ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., more as a precaution, with the intent of having him ready for the NCAAs. It’s far more likely that will happen on Saturday, should Duke advance out of the first round.

Ngongba, at 6-11 and 250 pounds, is the Devils’ best rim protector – he had a team-high 32 blocks – and averaged 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a game in his 29 games.

The Blue Devils (32-2) won the ACC Tournament with a seven-man rotation that often had 6-9 freshman Cameron Boozer playing the ‘5” and forward Maliq Brown in the starting lineup along with Isaiah Evans, Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer.

Duke edged Florida State in a one-point thriller in the tournament opener, smacked Clemson in the semifinals and outlasted Virginia for a 74-70 victory in the title game to earn a second straight ACC championship to add to its regular-season title.

Siena (23-11) has started 7-foot Riley Mulvey at center and also has 6-10 Australian Tasman Goodrick, who averaged 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Saints.

Siena, No. 183 in the NET rankings, played its way into the NCAA field by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title and will be making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance. The Saints are 4-6 overall in NCAA play.

The Saints will be facing the NCAA’s No. 1 overall seed for a third time, losing to Maryland in 2002 and Louisville in 2009.

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