Duke Basketball Injury Update: Blue Devils Largely Healthy Ahead of Louisville Showdown…Read More….

Duke Basketball Injury Update: Blue Devils Largely Healthy Ahead of Louisville Showdown…Read More….

As the No. 6 Duke Blue Devils prepare for a marquee ACC road test against No. 16 Louisville on January 6, head coach Jon Scheyer’s squad enters the matchup in enviable health. At 13–1 overall and 2–0 in conference play, Duke has built early momentum, and injuries have not significantly disrupted its rotation as the calendar turns deeper into league play.

The Blue Devils are coming off a gritty 91–87 road victory over Florida State on January 3, a game that underscored both their resilience and offensive firepower. Freshman Isaiah Evans delivered a breakout performance, pouring in a career-high 28 points to lead Duke past a physical Seminoles team. Just as important, the contest did not result in any new injuries to key contributors, allowing Duke to maintain continuity heading into one of its toughest early ACC tests.

The lone injury note of significance involves graduate transfer center Ifeanyi Ukochukwu, who has been listed as questionable with an undisclosed issue since late December. The 6-foot-11 big man, who transferred to Duke from Rice, has seen limited minutes this season, serving primarily as frontcourt depth behind Cameron Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II. While Jon Scheyer has remained tight-lipped regarding specifics, the absence of Ukochukwu has not materially affected Duke’s interior production. The Blue Devils continue to control the glass at an elite level, leading the ACC with a rebounding margin of +10.8 per game.

Freshman guard-forward Sebastian Wilkins remains out for the entirety of the 2025–26 season after electing to redshirt in November. A reclassified prospect from the 2026 class, Wilkins’ decision was made with long-term development in mind. The coaching staff views the move as an investment in the future, allowing the talented wing to acclimate to the college game without sacrificing a year of eligibility.

Encouragingly for Duke, there are no lingering issues affecting the core of its rotation. Key players such as Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, and Nikolas Khamenia are all healthy and expected to play full roles against Louisville. Additionally, earlier concerns surrounding Patrick Ngongba II’s foot and Maliq Brown’s recovery from past shoulder dislocations appear firmly in the rearview mirror. Both big men are fully integrated, with Ngongba emerging as a consistent presence as a rim protector and interior scorer.

Duke’s overall health has been a significant factor in its strong defensive identity and physical dominance early in the season. Scheyer and his staff have emphasized caution and load management with minor ailments, an approach designed to keep a young roster fresh through the grind of ACC play.

With the Blue Devils largely intact, expectations remain high as they head into Louisville with confidence. While Ufochukwu’s status bears monitoring, Duke appears well-positioned to handle the challenge without major absences—and to continue building a résumé worthy of a deep March run..