Duke point guard Caleb Foster has ‘outside chance’ at injury return to face St. John’s in Sweet 16

Could Duke get back starting point guard Caleb Foster for its Friday night Sweet 16 matchup with St. John’s?

Unlikely as it may seem, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein there is an “outside chance” of it happening.

Foster underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot March 8 and was seen in a protective boot during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

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. Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

“When he first got hurt I thought there was like, one in a million,” Scheyer said. “Since then, the chances have continued to increase. I even think there’s an outside chance, maybe for Friday. I know in Caleb’s mind it was last Friday. He’s trying to do the impossible here and come back as soon as he can.”

Freshman Cayden Boozer has started in his place and performed well.

He had 19 points in a come-from-behind, opening-round win over Siena and has committed only nine turnovers in five starts.

But Boozer lacks Foster’s experience and shotmaking ability. Before the injury, Foster averaged 8.5 points and 2.8 assists, shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range.

Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (1) drives as Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Sir Mohammed (13) defends during the second half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

The Blue Devils did get back starting center Patrick Ngongba II for their second-round victory over TCU.

Ngongba missed the ACC Tournament with a sore foot and contributed four points, four rebounds and four assists in 13 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s win.