Duke coach Jon Scheyer is “optimistic” that versatile forward Maliq Brown will return this season after a shoulder injury.
The 6-foot-9 junior was injured after playing only 10 minutes in the third-ranked Blue Devils’ victory against Virginia on Monday. He looked to hurt his left arm when reaching into a passing lane to deflect a ball, and he was wearing a sling thereafter.
Scheyer said Thursday that medical imaging revealed nothing surprising about what he characterized as a dislocated shoulder. On Saturday night, the Blue Devils (23-3, 15-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) will play Illinois of the Big Ten in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“We’re optimistic that we can get him back this season,” Scheyer stated during a virtual press conference. “I think the hardest aspect is, a lot of it has to do with his stability, and he’s still fairly painful. So we’ll see how much time that takes.
Brown will not play “in the next week or so at the very least,” according to Scheyer, who expects him to be out for many weeks. Duke has just five games remaining in the regular season.
Brown, a Syracuse transfer, averages just 2.5 points and 4.1 rebounds. However, his significance extends beyond raw stats; his ability to switch and defend numerous spots off the bench has been a critical component of a defense that ranks fourth nationally in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency measures, allowing 90.9 points per 100 possessions.
Brown had just returned after a four-game hiatus due to a knee ailment.
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