GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) 鈥� Duke coach Jon Scheyer is 鈥渉opeful鈥� big man Patrick Ngongba II will play Saturday against TCU in the second round of as he recovers from soreness in his right foot.
Ngongba for the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed and East Region headliner. The first was a rivalry win to close the regular season against North Carolina, three games in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and in which the
Scheyer said Friday he wanted to see how the 6-foot-11, 250-pound sophomore practiced before making a decision. Ngongba was still wearing a protective boot and using a knee scooter at least briefly on Friday as reporters waited for locker-room interviews to begin.
鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful he鈥檚 going to be available,鈥� Scheyer said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see what he can do in practice. … I know he was itching to play (Thursday). Now, he hasn鈥檛 done what he needs to do in order to play, but if everything goes well, we鈥檒l see him back in there.鈥�
When asked specifically what he wanted to see from Ngongba in practice, Scheyer replied, 鈥淗e needs to just be on the floor and move the way that he needs to to be successful. He鈥檚 been ramping up and doing a really good job. We just want to make sure he鈥檚 feeling right to play at a high level. Not just to be out there, but to be him.鈥�
Ngongba is averaging 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds, playing alongside star freshman Cameron Boozer and helping the Blue Devils use an
Ngongba is capable of protecting the rim (averaging 1.1 blocks) while helping the Blue Devils routinely beat teams on the glass and outscore them in the paint. He has also proven to be a capable passer (1.9 assists).
Ngongba’s absence has forced Boozer to spend more time at the center position.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure some things that he has to work through,鈥� Scheyer said of potential rust for Ngongba. 鈥淏ut end of the day, he just changes the dynamic of our team where other guys aren鈥檛 playing out of position as much. We鈥檙e able to get a better rotation. And you have a guy who鈥檚 a big-time rim threat. … that changes the dynamic of who we are.鈥�
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