Duke basketball: Dariq Whitehead's status versus Delaware

Dariq Whitehead is unlikely to make his Duke basketball debut this week.

Matt Giles | Nov 17, 2022

Duke basketball: Dariq Whitehead's status versus Delaware /

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It's been more than 11 weeks since Duke basketball freshman Dariq Whitehead suffered a fractured bone in his right foot during one of the team's late-summer workouts and underwent surgery.

First-year Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer is probably tired of answering the same question about Whitehead's status in his press conferences.

But consider that the 6-foot-7, 220-pound small forward arrived in Durham at No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2022 Composite and has perimeter playmaking abilities that could instantly supercharge the Blue Devils' offense. With that in mind, it's understandable that Duke basketball fans and media members keep asking about him.

Riq too smooth in transition 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️⛽️👿@dariq_whitehead pic.twitter.com/msczXXsnG6
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) July 30, 2022

That was again the case following the team's 69-64 loss to the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks at the State Farm Champions Classic in Indianapolis on Tuesday night. And this time, Jon Scheyer did not entirely rule out Dariq Whitehead for the next game.

"Probably not Friday," Scheyer said about the debut timeline for Whitehead, who dressed out for the Kansas game and warmed up with his teammates but did not play. "But he's progressing. And [we want to] get him just back in game shape and then playing against contact. He's only done that for one day, and he needs more time than that to work back to being himself and getting back in game shape."

The No. 7 Blue Devils (2-1, 0-0 ACC) face the unranked Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (1-1, 0-0 CAA) at 7 p.m. ET Friday in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Then they host the Bellarmine Knights (2-1, 0-0 ASUN) at 8:30 p.m. ET Monday.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

Published Nov 17, 2022

MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.