Duke coach Jon Scheyer is “optimistic” that versatile forward Maliq Brown will return this season from a shoulder injury.
The 6-foot-9 junior was wounded after playing just 10 minutes in the third-ranked Blue Devils’ win at Virginia on Monday. He looked to injure 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 described 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 said in a virtual conversation with media. “I think the hardest part is, a lot of it has to do with his stability, which right now he’s pretty sore still. 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 several weeks. Duke has just five games left in the regular season.
Brown, a Syracuse transfer, averages just 2.5 points and 4.1 rebounds. However, his value extends beyond raw numbers; his ability to switch and defend multiple positions off the bench has been a critical component of a defense that ranks fourth nationally in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency metrics, allowing 90.9 points per 100 possessions.
Brown had just returned from a four-game absence due to a knee injury.
“We need him back, fully healthy,” Scheyer added.
