Duke’s Caleb Foster to Miss 2024 NCAA Tournament With Ankle Injury
Julia StumbaughMarch 21, 2024
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Duke freshman guard Caleb Foster will miss the rest of the 2023-24 season with a stress fracture in his right ankle, the team announced on Thursday.
No. 4 Duke begins the NCAA tournament Friday against No. 13 Vermont.
Duke Men’s Basketball @DukeMBBCoach Scheyer announced @iamcalebfoster is out for season with a stress fracture (ankle). Thoughts with our guy Caleb.
Foster last played Feb. 24 during a loss at Wake Forest and had missed five consecutive games.
He averaged 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27 games and 15 starts prior to his injury.
Foster was shooting 40.6 percent from behind the arc, ranking him second in three-point percentage only to senior guard Jeremy Roach.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said during Duke’s Thursday media appearance in Brooklyn that Foster had attempted to practice earlier in the week but “wasn’t able to really be himself,” per 247Sports’ Adam Rowe.
Scheyer added that the team had received “multiple second opinions” to confirm Foster would not be able to return this season.
“My heart breaks for Caleb, because Caleb has done literally everything you could ask from a guy who has an injury and trying to get back out there,” Scheyer said.
Scheyer continued: “There’s no replacing Caleb. He’s got a big heart. He’s a tough competitor and he’s just somebody that makes everybody better on the floor. And unfortunately, we’ve had to play without him since the Wake Forest game, and there’s no replacing him.”
Jaylen Blakes and TJ Power may get more minutes coming off the bench in Foster’s absence, and starters Roach, Jared McCain and Tyrese Proctor may also see more time.
The Blue Devils have already proved how much they rely on that trio during the team’s 74-69 upset by NC State in the ACC tournament quarterfinals. Roach, McCain and Proctor combined for just 23 points on 7-for-28 shooting as the team was held below 70 points for the first time in 17 games.
