Duke's Ngongba, Foster Sidelined for NCAA Tournament Opener

Blue Devils' star center and guard ruled out for first-round matchup against Siena

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:34am

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Duke head coach Jon Scheyer provided injury updates on star center Patrick Ngongba II and guard Caleb Foster ahead of the Blue Devils' NCAA Tournament opener against Siena. Ngongba is unlikely to play due to a right foot injury, while Foster has been ruled out after undergoing surgery for a fractured right foot suffered in early March.

Why it matters

Ngongba and Foster are key contributors for Duke, which enters the tournament as the overall No. 1 seed. Their absences will force Scheyer to adjust his rotation, though the Blue Devils remain heavy favorites to advance past the first round.

The details

Ngongba, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game during the regular season. Scheyer said it's "very unlikely" Ngongba will play in the first-round matchup, though the team will continue to monitor his progress. As for Foster, the junior guard averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists this season. He underwent surgery for a fractured right foot and is not expected to return unless Duke reaches the Final Four.

  • Duke is scheduled to play Siena in the NCAA Tournament's first round on Thursday, March 20, 2026 at approximately 2:50 p.m. ET.
  • Ngongba suffered his right foot injury prior to the tournament, while Foster fractured his right foot in Duke's regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 7, 2026.

The players

Patrick Ngongba II

A 6-foot-11 sophomore center for Duke who averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game during the regular season.

Caleb Foster

A junior guard for Duke who averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game this season.

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, who is providing updates on the injuries to Ngongba and Foster.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I mean, look, he's been progressing. As we've gotten closer to tomorrow, I think it's very unlikely, you know, that he plays tomorrow. 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 just yet.”

— Jon Scheyer, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils

What’s next

Scheyer and the Duke medical staff will continue to monitor Ngongba's progress, holding out hope that the center can return to the lineup later in the tournament. For Foster, the focus will be on his long-term recovery process after undergoing surgery for the fractured right foot.

The takeaway

The absences of Ngongba and Foster are a significant blow to Duke's lineup, but the Blue Devils remain the overall No. 1 seed and heavy favorites to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Scheyer will need to adjust his rotation, but Duke's depth and talent should allow them to overcome these key injuries, at least in the early rounds.