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Injury luck hasn’t been in Duke Basketball’s side under first-year head coach John Scheer.
Well before preseason No. 7 Duke’s campaign began, the currently unranked Blue Devils (14-6, 5-4) had two top-ranked five-star freshmen, center Derek Lively II. and forward Darik Whitehead suffered calf injuries and a broken right leg, respectively, which cost them all exhibition action and the start of the regular season.
In late November, Lone Duke basketball captain Jeremy Roach suffered a toe injury that dragged on and cost him four games later, including a three-game streak earlier this month. As noted, the junior point guard has returned in the Blue Devils’ last two trips, but it may be a while before he’s at 100 percent.
Not to mention sophomore guard Jalen Blakes, who broke his nose during practice last week and has to wear a protective mask during games.
Then on Monday night, less than three minutes after halftime in Duke’s 78-75 road loss against the unranked Virginia Tech Hawkeyes (12-8, 2-7 ACC), Darik Whitehead: He was down with a lower leg injury after attempting an interception on defense. Lob pass around the 3-point line.
Judging by the awkward landing of his left foot that sent Whitehead out to the locker room at the next media timeout and eventually crunching him back to the bench, the 6′ 7″ 220″ pound-aggressive athlete spent a good deal of time miss the
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After the loss, Duke suffered their fourth loss on the opponent’s home floor in five games this season, with Shire referring to Whitehead’s recent injury at a press conference, but saying it was too early to know a diagnosis. .
“I haven’t spoken to the medical team yet,” Shire explained. I don’t know what we will do other than get him back. [to Durham], evaluate him and go from there. ”
The timing was particularly bad this time. After all, Whitehead has scored in his double figures in six of his last eight appearances, including his 10 on 4-for-6 shooting, Virginia Tech’s Included was a 2-on-2 clip of him from downtown before his college injury. He had not scored 10 or more points in his first eight games as he played catchup.
“It hurts because he was there for us,” Roach said of Whitehead in the locker room afterward. I certainly wanted this win for him, but I just wish him well and a speedy recovery.”
Luckily, the staggering Duke basketball team has four days off before their road match against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-11, 1-8 ACC) at 3pm on Saturday.
Related: 2022-23 Duke Predicted Scores for Each Match
For daily Duke basketball content, keep an eye on Blue Devil Country.
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