Duke enters the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed with a 32-2 record, but the Blue Devils will be without their starting point guard for at least the opening rounds of March Madness.
What Is the Status of Caleb Foster?
Junior guard Caleb Foster has been ruled out for the foreseeable future after suffering a fractured right foot in Duke’s regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 7.
Foster underwent surgery the following day and is not expected to return until the Final Four at the earliest, if Duke advances that far. Head coach Jon Scheyer provided an update on Sunday, March 15, confirming that Foster still has a way to go in his recovery.
“Caleb is going to be a little while still,” Scheyer said, per The Fayetteville Observer. “Again, he’s progressing well.”
The injury occurred late in the first half of Duke’s 76-61 victory over the Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Foster swiped at a driving Seth Trimble and attempted to chase down a loose rebound before suddenly stopping near midcourt.
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
He signaled to the bench that he needed to come out and walked gingerly to the locker room. Foster later appeared on the bench during the second half wearing a walking boot on his right foot.
Although Foster cannot play, his presence on the sideline has been invaluable for the Blue Devils. Scheyer noted that Foster has remained engaged and vocal throughout Duke’s postseason run, even while rehabbing his injury.
“Caleb, I’ve never seen a guy shoot so much in a scooter,” Scheyer added. “Multiple times a game, I have to ask him to shut up for one second just to get in a few coaching points.”
Foster has been a steady presence in the Duke backcourt all season, averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He shot 40.4% from three-point range and provided valuable veteran leadership for a roster loaded with talented freshmen. His absence removes the Blue Devils’ most experienced perimeter defender and a reliable floor general who rarely turned the ball over.
Without Foster, freshman Cayden Boozer has slid into a more prominent role alongside his twin brother, Cameron Boozer. The shift gives Duke less shooting but more natural playmaking, as Cayden Boozer is shooting just 29% from beyond the arc this season. The onus now falls on Dame Sarr and Isaiah Evans to knock down open 3-pointers when defenses collapse on Cameron Boozer.
The Blue Devils open NCAA Tournament play against No. 16 seed Siena on Thursday. Duke has won 30 consecutive NCAA Tournament openers since 2002 and is heavily favored to advance. However, the path through the bracket is challenging, with UConn, St. John’s, Michigan State, UCLA, and Kansas all lurking in Duke’s region.
Foster has remained optimistic despite the difficult circumstances. Scheyer said his junior guard has emphatically stated that he will be back. The Duke medical staff is doing everything possible to give Foster a chance to return if the team advances deep into the tournament. For now, the Blue Devils must find a way to contend for a national championship without one of their most important players.
