As Duke prepares to face St. John’s in the Sweet 16, the status of injured point guard Caleb Foster is a big storyline. What once seemed impossible is suddenly within reach, and the Blue Devils could have reinforcements on the way on Friday.
Will Duke’s Caleb Foster Play in the Sweet 16?
Foster has an “outside chance” of returning for Duke’s Sweet 16 showdown against St. John’s, according to head coach Jon Scheyer. The junior guard has defied expectations throughout his rehabilitation from a fractured right foot, and Scheyer is no longer willing to rule out a return this weekend.
Speaking with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein on Monday, Scheyer detailed how dramatically the situation has evolved since Foster went down in early March.
“When he first got hurt, I felt there was more like one in a million,” Scheyer said. “Since that, since he got hurt, the way he’s worked, the chances have continued to increase.
“I even think there’s an outside chance maybe for this Friday. He’s trying to do the impossible here. I think this weekend, I don’t think I can rule it out because of who he is and how he’s been working.”
It’s worth noting that Foster’s family told WRAL’s Chris Lea that he “has a 50-50 chance of playing Friday night,” so it sounds like he will be a game-time decision.
Duke’s Caleb Foster (foot) has an “outside chance” to play in Friday’s Sweet 16 game against St. John’s, per Jon Scheyer.
Has not played since 3/7.
Averages 8.5 PPG.
Significant news for the Blue Devils.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 23, 2026
The injury occurred during Duke’s regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 7. Foster went down late in the first half after attempting to chase a loose ball, immediately signaling to the bench that something was wrong.
He walked gingerly to the locker room and returned to the sideline wearing a walking boot, confirming the worst fears of Blue Devils fans everywhere.
Foster’s importance to Duke cannot be overstated. The junior was enjoying a breakout season after a difficult sophomore campaign that saw him fall out of the rotation entirely. He averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while connecting on 40.2% of his 3-point attempts.
Beyond the statistics, Foster provided stability and veteran leadership for a roster loaded with talented freshmen still learning how to win at the highest level.
Having Foster available, even in a limited capacity, would significantly change the equation for Duke. His decision-making under pressure, his ability to protect the ball, and his composure in hostile environments are precisely what Duke needs against Rick Pitino’s aggressive scheme.
If Foster is out against St. John’s on Friday and Duke advances, there remains the possibility of a return for Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup against the winner of No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Michigan State.
For now, Duke will continue preparing for St. John’s while monitoring Foster’s progress daily. The junior guard, who rebuilt his career this season after hitting rock bottom as a sophomore, may have one more remarkable chapter to write.
Whether that chapter begins Friday or later in the tournament, Scheyer and the Blue Devils are leaving the door wide open.
Sweet 16 Schedule for Thursday and Friday
After several days without any NCAA Tournament games, the action resumes tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET. There are four games on tonight and four games on Friday, with all of them airing on CBS and TBS/truTV.
THURSDAY
- No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2 Purdue | 7:10 p.m. ET | CBS
- No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska | 7:30 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV
- No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona | 9:45 p.m. ET | CBS
- No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston | 10:05 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV
FRIDAY
- No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 1 Duke | 7:10 p.m. ET | CBS
- No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan | 7:35 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV
- No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 UConn | 9:45 p.m. ET | CBS
- No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State | 10:10 p.m. ET | TBS/truTV
The NCAA Tournament averaged 9.8 million viewers through its first three days, the best start since CBS and TNT began showing all of the games together in 2011, according to Nielsen data. The primetime Thursday window hit 12.5 million, making it the most-watched first-round window in tournament history.
All eyes will be on Jefferson to see if he can return and give Iowa State their best shot at advancing to the Elite Eight, which gets underway on March 28 to March 29.
