Duke Loses Key Big Man Ahead of March Madness Opener

Sophomore Patrick Ngongba II ruled out for first-round game due to right foot soreness

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:48am

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Duke's No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has taken a hit, as starting big man Patrick Ngongba II has been ruled out of the team's first-round game against Siena due to soreness in his right foot. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound sophomore has missed the Blue Devils' last four games, including their run to the ACC Tournament title.

Why it matters

Ngongba's absence is a significant blow for Duke, as he is a key part of their frontcourt rotation and interior defense. The Blue Devils are already dealing with injuries and will now have to find a way to win their opening game without one of their most important players.

The details

Ngongba has been ruled out of Thursday's first-round game against Siena after missing Duke's last four games due to the right foot issue. The 250-pound sophomore had been a starter for the Blue Devils, who are the No. 1 overall seed in this year's NCAA Tournament.

  • Ngongba missed Duke's regular-season finale against North Carolina as a game-time decision.
  • He then sat out last week's three-game run for Duke to win the ACC Tournament title.

The players

Patrick Ngongba II

A 6-foot-11, 250-pound sophomore starting big man for the Duke Blue Devils.

Duke Blue Devils

The No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This injury to a key player is a significant setback for Duke as they look to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament as the top overall seed. Their ability to overcome Ngongba's absence and advance will be closely watched.