The Duke Blue Devils are still making a run in the 2026 NCAA March Madness Tournament, but they’ve experienced several setbacks with their starters succumbing to foot injuries. The loss of key players has been a critical factor that many analysts believe could jeopardize the Duke basketball program’s chances of making it to the title game.
Patrick Ngongba is one of the players who has been a standout for the No. 1 seed Duke throughout this season, but his status is currently questionable. Here’s everything to know about his injury status ahead of the Duke versus St. John’s Sweet 16 matchup tonight.
Patrick Ngongba’s Injury Timeline and Return
GettyGREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 21: Patrick Ngongba #21 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against Liutauras Lelevicius #3 and David Punch #15 of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Patrick Ngongba, who stands at nearly seven-feet tall, is a key defensive anchor for Duke. However, he has been dealing with a lingering injury to his foot that forced him to miss five consecutive games, including the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship Game and Duke’s opening-round win in March Madness. His absence from these vital matchups was notable as he has been a key contributor all season, averaging around 10.5 points, six rebounds, and serving as the team’s primary rim protector, per Duke Athletics.
The Blue Devils exercised caution with the young big man, even having him use a walking boot and scooter to limit stress on his injured foot while he recovered and performed rehabilitation to strengthen it. That cautious approach paid off, as Ngongba made his return in Duke’s Round of 32 matchup against VCU. Though he logged only 13 minutes on the court, he contributed to the team’s win and ultimate advancement to the Sweet 16 round of March Madness.
He is Still Limited, Not Yet at Full Capacity
GettyGREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 21: Xavier Edmonds #24 of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs drives to the basket defended by Patrick Ngongba #21 and Isaiah Evans #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Heading into the matchup against St. John’s, Duke is expected to have Patrick Ngongba play in the game. There has been commentary about continued foot soreness from the big man, but he has also been noted to be eager to get back out onto the court with enthusiasm to contribute during his playing time. While there are currently no indications of a setback, Duke is likely to continue easing him back into a larger role rather than immediately returning him to a full workload on the court.
Prior to Duke’s Round of 32 game against TCU, head coach Jon Scheyer told media outlets that Ngongba was “itching to play” but that they were taking things easy on the big man to avoid a larger foot injury, like the fracture to fellow team member Caleb Foster.
Duke and St. John’s will face off in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7:10 PM ET / 6:10 PM CT / 4:10 PM PT.
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