The No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils (34-2) are nearing full health at the perfect time for Friday, March 27’s Round of 16 battle vs. the No. 5 seed St. John’s Red Storm (30-6).
Duke PG Caleb Foster has missed five consecutive games due to a foot fracture, but he’s rapidly progressed from the setback with a chance to return to the lineup tonight.
Will the Blue Devils’ rotation get a significant boost with the latest Caleb Foster injury update for Friday? Let’s look at the news for tonight’s 7:10 p.m. ET tip-off on CBS, and how it could impact St. John’s vs. Duke picks for PrizePicks.
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Caleb Foster Injury Update vs. St. John’s in NCAA Tournament
On Thursday, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer told reporters Foster would be a game-time decision on Friday night. That positive news continued into Friday afternoon, as the junior 6’5” guard is expected to be available, barring any setbacks.
However, Foster is coming off surgery for a broken foot, meaning his minutes could be limited. His veteran presence could still make a major impact against a chaotic St. John’s defense.
Head coach Rick Pitino has leaned on press defense for years, leading to the Red Storm forcing 13.6 turnovers per game (92nd percentile). St. John’s created 16 turnovers in its 67-65 win over No. 4 seed Kansas in the second round.
Since Foster’s absence began on March 12, the Blue Devils posted 11.8 turnovers per game in the last five matchups — compared to 10.6 on the season (73rd percentile). Duke’s second-round battle with No. 9 seed TCU was a good preview of tonight, as the Horned Frogs logged 13.7 forced turnovers per contest (92nd percentile).
TCU created havoc by forcing 16 turnovers vs. the Blue Devils. While that’s an ominous sign with St. John’s awaiting, Foster is returning at the perfect time.
He should alleviate some of the ball-handling duties from Duke freshmen F Cameron Boozer and G Cayden Boozer.
How could Foster’s return to the lineup shift player projections on PrizePicks?
Caleb Foster Injury Impact: Which Duke Players to Target?
As mentioned, Foster could be poised for limited minutes tonight, but his team-leading 40.2% 3-point percentage is a significant boost. He’s the fourth-leading scorer in the lineup with 8.5 points per game (PPG).
But the Johnnies limit teams to only 6.2 made 3-pointers per game (94th percentile) and a 33.3% 3-point shot distribution (94th percentile), per Bart Torvik. At the very least, Foster could aid Duke’s floor space, aiding Duke F Cameron Boozer and C Patrick Ngongba’s ability to work around the rim.
Furthermore, St. John’s ranks in the 16th percentile for close-2 shot distribution allowed. Ngongba played for only 13 minutes in his return from injury in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
However, he could see increased minutes in his second game back from injury. If that’s the case, Ngongba may benefit from improved floor spacing thanks to Foster’s 3-point prowess.
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Duke C Patrick Ngongba Projections, Picks vs. St. John’s
Check out a few of Patrick Ngongba’s projections on PrizePicks for St. John’s vs. Duke on Friday, March 27.
- 8.5 Points
- 16.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts
- 4.5 Rebounds
- 0.5 Blocked Shots
- 19.5 Fantasy Score
Make St. John’s vs. Duke Picks on PrizePicks
As 6.5-point favorites vs. St. John’s on PrizePicks Team Picks, could Duke dominate with a healthy rotation? Foster may help break the Red Storm’s press, paired with efficient 3-point shooting. The offense could improve across the board, including Ngongba’s ability to get easy looks around the rim.
You can make your St. John’s vs. Duke picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
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