Duke's Scheyer Praises Foster's Heroic Return from Injury

Caleb Foster delivered a standout performance off the bench in Duke's Sweet 16 win over St. John's.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:40am

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Duke head coach Jon Scheyer had high praise for Caleb Foster after the sophomore guard returned from a right foot fracture to play a key role in the Blue Devils' 78-67 victory over St. John's in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Despite missing several games due to the injury, Foster came off the bench to score 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grab 3 rebounds in 19 minutes of action, drawing an emotional reaction from Scheyer.

Why it matters

Foster's gutsy return from injury provided a major boost for a Duke team seeking its first national championship since 2015. The Blue Devils are now one step closer to that goal after advancing to the Elite Eight, where they will face the winner of Michigan State and UConn.

The details

In his first game back from a right foot fracture, Caleb Foster came off the bench to score 11 points, grab 3 rebounds, and dish 2 assists in 19 minutes of action. His performance drew high praise from head coach Jon Scheyer, who called it 'one of the most special performances I've ever seen' and said 'that's a leader right there.' Duke also got strong contributions from Isaiah Evans (25 points) and the Boozer brothers, Cameron (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Cayden (7 points, 3 assists), to defeat St. John's 78-67 and advance to the Elite Eight.

  • Duke defeated St. John's in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 28, 2026.
  • Caleb Foster has been dealing with a right foot fracture since earlier this month.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team.

Caleb Foster

A sophomore guard for the Duke Blue Devils who returned from a right foot fracture to play a key role in their Sweet 16 win.

Isaiah Evans

A Duke player who scored 25 points in the win over St. John's.

Cameron Boozer

A Duke player who scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the win over St. John's.

Cayden Boozer

A Duke player who scored 7 points and dished 3 assists in the win over St. John's.

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What they’re saying

“That's one of the most special performances I've ever seen... That's a leader right there.”

— Jon Scheyer, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils

What’s next

Duke will face the winner of the Michigan State-UConn matchup in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 29.

The takeaway

Caleb Foster's heroic return from injury provided a major boost for Duke, showcasing the team's depth and resilience as they continue their quest for a national championship. This performance underscores Foster's leadership and the Blue Devils' determination to overcome adversity on their path to the Final Four.