Duke basketball will be missing a crucial player in its pursuit for the NCAA Tournament title.Caleb Foster’s freshman season ended before he got a chance to participate in an NCAA tournament game.
The Duke freshman guard’s right ankle injury, sustained last month, has not healed sufficiently for him to compete in the NCAA Tournament for the Blue Devils, Duke coach Jon Scheyer announced Thursday.
“My heart breaks for Caleb,” she continued, “because Caleb has done literally everything you could ask from a guy who has an injury and trying to get back out there.”
The Blue Devils (24-8), seeded fourth in the NCAA Tournament’s South Region, will face No. 14 seed Vermont on Friday at 7:10 p.m.
Foster has not worn a Duke uniform in the last five games. He’s been sitting on the squad bench in street clothes, sporting a protective boot on his right foot. He has also utilized a knee scooter to get around without placing weight on his wounded foot.
Foster last played for the Blue Devils on February 24, when he injured his right foot in an 83-79 defeat against Wake Forest. Foster started but only played 22 minutes, missing the last 15:28 of the game.
Foster has started 15 of 27 games this season, averaging 7.7 points and making 40.6% of his 3-pointers. The Wake Forest game, in which he was injured, was his third consecutive start.
