Caleb Foster suffered an injury in the regular season finale between Duke and North Carolina, one that sidelined him for a good portion of the first half and the entire second half of action.
Jon Scheyer didn't have much information to provide after his team's victory, but did make a note to say that he would be shocked if both Foster and sophomore big man Patrick Ngongba II played in this week's ACC Tournament.
Scheyer provided an update on Tuesday, one that could have major implications on the Blue Devils' season.
Caleb Foster undergoes surgery
The junior point guard suffered a fracture in his right foot, an injury that Scheyer says will sideline him for a "forseeable" time.
Re: Caleb Foster...
— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) March 10, 2026
Already had surgery and is starting rehab, but Scheyer adds that Duke would most likely have to make the Final Four for Foster to have a chance at returning this season. https://t.co/gnMhdbVYyU
The good news for Duke is that although Ngongba will miss the ACC Tournament, he is expected to be back when the Blue Devils start their NCAA Tournament quest. As for Foster, it remains to be seen if he can return to action this season.
The potential timeline
Scheyer indicated that Duke will likely have to make a run to the Final Four in order for Foster to have a chance of returning this season. While that still is very much doable for the No. 1-ranked team in the land, Foster's absence is a major void that the team has to now adjust to on the fly.
What it means for UNC
If North Carolina and Duke, both of whom have double-byes, win their first game of the ACC Tournament, they will square off once again in the quarterfinal round on Friday night.
The Tar Heels would need to be much better on the glass, as their effort rebounding the basketball in Durham was very disappointing. They also will see Cayden Boozer playing an increased role, a matchup that they hope Seth Trimble or Derek Dixon can take advantage of.
What about Duke's NCAA Tournament odds?
Many people believe this Duke team is the clear-cut favorite to win it all this season, but the injury status of both Foster and Ngongba II will play a huge role in how far this Duke team can go.
With this injury update, Duke now knows that they will be without their starting point guard for an indefinite amount of time. While many still will have a ton of faith in the Blue Devils, this injury is one that could have major implications during the upcoming NCAA Tournament, one that Duke still believes they can win.