Duke’s Bench Giant Sidelined by Knee Woes
It’s been weeks since Ifeanyi Ufochukwu last appeared for No. 6 Duke, as a knee injury has kept the 6-foot-11 center out of action. With the Blue Devils’ frontcourt shorthanded in practice, coach Jon Scheyer even called on former big man Ryan Young to fill in. Duke’s initial ACC injury report confirms Ufochukwu isn’t ready to roll against No. 20 Louisville, which itself is missing freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr. Ufochukwu has seen just five mop-up minutes this season, averaging 0.8 points and 0.6 rebounds, while Duke’s key big men remain healthy. After facing Louisville, the Devils head home to host SMU.
It turns out Duke’s ultimate game-changer is a knee that refuses to cooperate. When your “reserve center” is so sidelined that you have to raid a consulting firm for temporary big-man relief, you might want to rethink your workout playlist. Meanwhile, Louisville’s star freshman is busy perfecting his best imitation of a back brace, leaving the ACC’s injury carousel spinning. Ufochukwu’s cameo stats suggest he’s aiming for an academy award in “Most Efficient Bench Warmer,” while Duke’s rotation laughs its way up the rankings without breaking a sweat (or a bone).
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