By ADAM ZAGORIA
With Duke set to open the Jon Scheyer Era on Monday, two high-profile freshmen are dealing with injuries.
Dariq Whitehead (fractured foot) and Derrick Lively III (strained calf) missed No. 7 Duke’s 82-45 exhibition win over Fayetteville State on Wednesday. Whitehead is not expected to play in the season opener Monday against Jacksonville, but Lively is a possibility.
“I still don’t know what their status is,” Scheyer said. “Dariq definitely won’t play Monday. He’s still a couple of weeks away. Derrick is still day to day. He’s been really ramping up.
“I think the big thing for both of those guys is just not being completely healthy. But you have to build up your game shape again and we don’t want to put them out too early. They are working hard. They were out here right after our walkthrough [Wednesday] on the court, building up their conditioning. They’re working every day to get back out there with us as soon as possible.”
The 7-foot-1 Lively is the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2022 per ESPN.com, while the 6-6 Whitehead is ranked No. 2.
Duke also faces No. 5 Kansas in the Champions Classic Nov. 15 in Indianapolis. Kansas coach Bill Self will miss that game as part of a four-game school-imposed suspension.
Photo: NewsObserver.com
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