Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball freshman out another game with leg injury

Duke basketball rookie Dariq Whitehead won't play on Tuesday night.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball freshman out another game with leg injury
Duke basketball freshman out another game with leg injury /
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Duke basketball will be without the services of injured freshman forward Dariq Whitehead for the second straight game when the unranked Blue Devils (15-6, 6-4 ACC) host the unranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons (14-8, 6-5 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. First-year head coach Jon Scheyer ruled him out on Tuesday afternoon.

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Whitehead, Duke's second-leading scorer in ACC play at 10.0 points per game, is still recovering from the sprain in his left lower leg that he suffered early in the second half of the 78-75 loss at Virginia Tech on Jan. 23.

After the Duke basketball squad battles the Demon Deacons, who beat the Blue Devils, 81-70, in Winston-Salem on Dec. 21, the Blue Devils will have three days off before welcoming rival UNC to Cameron Indoor Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

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Judging by Scheyer's Monday update on Whitehead, it seems more likely than not that the 6-foot-7, 220-pound former five-star recruit will be on the floor for that matchup.

Tuesday night will mark Dariq Whitehead's sixth absence this season. In addition to Saturday's 86-43 victory at Georgia Tech, he missed the first three games of the season with a right foot fracture, which he sustained in late August. And he didn't make the trip to Wake Forest due to a non-COVID illness.

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Matt Giles
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.

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