WASHINGTON, DC — Duke junior Caleb Foster, a 6-foot-5 guard, is a “game-time decision” for the Blue Devils’ Sweet Sixteen game against St. John’s on Friday at Capital One Arena, coach Jon Scheyer said. Foster fractured his foot in the regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 7 and underwent surgery the following day. He was on the court during the portion of practice that the media was allowed to watch on Thursday.
“He’s in a position where he’s going to try to (play) tomorrow night,” Scheyer said. “He had a good day of practice yesterday, doing a little bit. We have to see how he feels today. Hopefully he progresses well enough tomorrow where — again, it’s not like there’s a lot of practice time, but we have to make sure he’s in position before the game, more of a game-time decision. He’s going to give it everything he has to go tomorrow night.”
Foster has missed the last five games, three in the ACC Tournament and two in the NCAA Tournament. Scheyer initially suggested that the Blue Devils would have to make the Final Four for Foster to have a shot at returning this season, but the veteran floor general has been doing everything he can to get back before then.
After suffering the injury, Foster apparently told Scheyer, “If I work every day, you have to promise me you’ll let me put this uniform on again with our guys.”
“Caleb’s one of the most resilient dudes I’ve been around,” 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Darren Harris told Hoops HQ. “He’s really tough-minded, and he’s been doing literally everything he can all day every day, trying to rehab, get his strength back, get his mobility back. So whenever he makes his debut, it’s going to be really great to see.”
Foster, who has started 3o of the 31 games he’s appeared in this season, is averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from three. Asked how the team is different with Foster in the lineup, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing Isaiah Evans told Hoops HQ, “Caleb is just super aggressive. He’s really strong. People don’t understand how strong Caleb is. Obviously he’s very fast. It’s really just a hassle for the other team being able to contain him. And then obviously he’s just a dog on defense.”
Cayden Boozer, a 6-foot-4 freshman guard, has stepped up in Foster’s absence, averaging 14 points, five assists and three rebounds in Duke’s two NCAA Tournament wins. “Cayden’s been phenomenal,” Evans said. “He’s just been doing what we need him to do.”
Duke-St. John’s tips at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday. The winner will face either No. 2 UConn or No. 3 Michigan State in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
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