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Duke Provides Update on Injured Guard
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- Duke Provides Update on Injured Guard
(REUTERS)
The Duke Blue Devils have looked impressive in their two exhibition games so far this preseason. First, Duke beat Belmont last week and then they took down No. 8 Tennessee by 40 on Tuesday night.
Jon Scheyer's team has looked impressive in these two preseason games and will hope to do so again this weekend when they face off against Kansas on the road. As Duke continues to prepare for the November 2nd opener, there are some positives with this roster already.
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However, Duke has been getting it done without two key players.
Both Caleb Foster and Drew Scharnowski have missed time with injuries, including the two preseason games. For Foster, he suffered a small ankle injury during a preseason practice, which has kept him out for the past few weeks. Scheyer has been adamant that the injury was not severe. And it looks like he's right.
Following Tuesday's win over Tennessee, Scheyer was asked about Foster's injury. He told reporters that there's a chance that Foster could play on Sunday at Kansas. That would be a HUGE boost for the Blue Devils as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Duke's exhibition at Kansas is a huge game in terms of the preseason as the Blue Devils are making the trip to the historic Allen Fieldhouse. So there will be a lot of hype around this game.
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In terms of a roster aspect, getting Foster back is huge.
Last season, Foster appeared in 33 games and averaged 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He was also one of Duke's best defenders on the perimeter, adding that element to the roster. Foster did suffer a foot injury late in the season and missed a lot of games in postseason play.
But when he returned in the NCAA Tournament against St. Johns and made an immediate impact. The Blue Devils are a better team when he was on the floor, especially on the defensive end. So having him healthy for the regular season opener will be key.
The Blue Devils are in good shape overall and Tuesday's win over Tennessee showcased the depth that this team has. Deron Rippey Jr . stood out in his debut, leading the game in scoring and will be a huge asset right away for Scheyer and his coaching staff.
Duke and Kansas are set to tipoff at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday with the game being broadcast live on ESPN.
