Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer is embracing the adversity of losing Maliq Brown to a knee injury as an opportunity for his team to grow and discover new strengths. The third-ranked Blue Devils will spend a few weeks without Brown, who sustained his injury at a critical juncture of the season.
In a post-game interview following Duke’s dominant 89-54 victory over Miami at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Scheyer reflected on the lessons learned under former coach Mike Krzyzewski, who often emphasized the significance of January as a defining month for teams.
“You don’t want it to happen, but I was taught – maybe Coach K was just saying this because we were losing a lot of games my freshman year in January – but he talked about January being a defining month and a month you can find something,” Scheyer shared. “For us, it’s just an opportunity to find something.”
Despite Brown’s absence, Duke (15-2, 7-0 ACC) extended its winning streak to 11 games and posted a remarkable 34-8 advantage in bench points against Miami. The Blue Devils have used this challenge to further develop their roster.
Mason Gillis, the Purdue transfer, played a key role, contributing 12 points, including four 3-pointers, and two assists in just 21 minutes off the bench. Scheyer, along with his teammates, lauded Gillis for his energy and sharp performance. Freshman Kon Knueppel, who scored a season-high 25 points, also recognized the impact of Gillis, noting, “It was good to see him in full Mason mode.”
In addition to Gillis, freshman center Patrick Ngongba has also stepped up in Brown’s absence. Ngongba, who has battled through a foot injury this season, played a season-high 18 minutes, registering four points and five rebounds. Scheyer expressed confidence in Ngongba’s development, praising his defense and noting that these minutes would allow him to continue progressing.
Cooper Flagg, the highly touted projected No. 1 pick for the 2025 NBA Draft, voiced his confidence in the two frontcourt players, Gillis and Ngongba, as they look to fill the void left by Brown. “It’s a huge opportunity for guys like Pat and Mason, who maybe haven’t seen as many minutes,” Flagg said. “Those two guys, I have no doubts, will step in and fill the role perfectly.”
While Duke is fully aware of the significance of Brown’s defensive contributions, the injury has given the team a chance to rise to the challenge and deepen its collective strength. Freshman guard Kon Knueppel echoed this sentiment: “It’s everybody, collectively. We’ve gotta be more locked in.”
With Brown sidelined, Duke is seizing the moment to test its depth, and with key players stepping up, the Blue Devils are determined to continue their strong season and maintain their place among the nation’s elite teams.
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