Duke loses Caleb Foster for ‘foreseeable future’ in NCAA Tournament blow

The top team in college basketball has lost its starting point guard right before the NCAA Tournament. 

Duke floor general Caleb Foster is expected to miss an “extended period” after suffering a broken right foot during the first half of Saturday’s dominant win over historic rival North Carolina. 

The junior guard underwent surgery Sunday morning, Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer announced.

Caleb Foster returns to the Duke bench in the second half wearing a boot. Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

“In his mind and our mind, we’ll do everything we possibly can with our mindset to continue to advance where we can give him a shot to come back when it’s all said and done,” Scheyer said.

Foster had started all but one of 31 games for the Blue Devils (29–2), averaging 8.5 points and 2.8 assists per game in an offense catalyzed by freshman superstar Cameron Boozer. 

He retreated to the locker room roughly five minutes before intermission Saturday after landing awkwardly on his foot, and he returned to the bench in the second half wearing a boot. 

This is Foster’s second right foot injury in three seasons.

As a freshman, he suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle that kept him sidelined for the Duke’s last nine games, including its run to the Elite Eight.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer checks on injured point guard Caleb Foster. Getty Images

Scheyer said that Foster was adamant on returning for March Madness, but it will likely take some time — and ongoing success in the guard’s absence — before he can return to the hardwood.

“I think the reality of it is, we’d have to advance to a Final Four,” Scheyer said. “Is there a chance earlier? I’m not going to eliminate that right now. But I think that’s really difficult to try to even imagine that scenario. We’re not going to have him the next couple of weeks, the next few weeks.”

Meanwhile, starting center Patrick Ngongba is also dealing with a foot issue and will be out for this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

Scheyer seemed much more optimistic about the return of the 6-foot-11 sophomore — who averages 10.7 points, six rebounds,= and 1.1 blocks per contest — saying that Ngongba’s case was a matter of lingering foot soreness that shouldn’t hamper his availability for the Big Dance.

“Our mindset is to get him ready for the NCAA tournament, that’s the priority, that’s our focus,” Scheyer said.

“We’ll cross that bridge next week to really see how he’s feeling and making sure just his soreness is down. But he’s going to play, it’s a matter of when. And our expectation is it’s going to be at the beginning of the tournament.”

Duke has a double-round bye for the ACC tournament in Charlotte and will face an undetermined opponent in Thursday’s quarterfinal. 

The Blue Devils remain the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament and are on pace to be the No. 1 overall seed in their quest to win their first national title since 2015.