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Duke Enters ACC Quarterfinals Without Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba After Foster’s Foot Surgery

Reserves step into larger roles as Duke navigates the conference tournament short-handed.

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Mar 7, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Injured Duke Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (center) looks on with a while wearing a walking boot during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Duke Blue Devils won 76-61. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
Mar 29, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (1) drives to the basket against Alabama Crimson Tide guard Aden Holloway (2) during the first half in the East Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Duke coach Jon Scheyer said starting guard Caleb Foster fractured his right foot against North Carolina and underwent surgery Sunday, ruling him out for a foreseeable period.
  • Scheyer indicated Foster’s in-season return would likely require a deep NCAA Tournament run, noting a Final Four berth as the realistic timeline.
  • Starting center Patrick Ngongba II is sidelined for the ACC Tournament with right‑foot soreness, with the team targeting his availability for the NCAA opener.
  • Freshman Cayden Boozer moved into an expanded role at point guard as the No. 1–seeded Blue Devils opened ACC play without two starters.
  • Duke finished the regular season 29–2 with a double‑bye, and Scheyer emphasized managing recovery timelines, including an initial rest period for Foster before rehab begins.