The Duke Blue Devils won their fourth straight game last week, a 72-46 triumph over Incarnate Word, but they did so without forward [autotag]Maliq Brown[/autotag].
The Syracuse transfer had been one of Duke’s best defenders through the first nine games, averaging 5.9 rebounds and a team-leading 2.1 steals, and he helped hold Auburn Tigers star Johni Broome to five first-half points in the Blue Devils’ best win of the season thus far.
However, before last week’s game against the Cardinals, Duke announced that Brown would be held out with a toe injury. The Blue Devils labeled him day-to-day with the injury, and with a week-long break before the next game, it seemed logical to assume he wouldn’t miss much time.
The team affirmed that belief with a positive update on Brown’s status ahead of Tuesday’s game against George Mason.
Maliq Brown injury update
The Blue Devils confirmed ahead of Tuesday’s game that Brown would play against the Patriots. Barring any setbacks, the toe injury will keep him out of a single game.
Duke forward depth chart
Freshmen centers [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag] and Patrick Ngongba II played a larger role in last week’s win over Incarnate Word in Brown’s absence, but the Syracuse transfer should spell them both against George Mason. Maluach has started every game in the paint, but Brown averages more minutes per night than the 7-footer, a role that should resume with his return to the lineup.