Duke’s basketball team faces a temporary setback as guard Tyrese Proctor has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee, as announced by Coach Jon Scheyer during his radio show on Wednesday night. Details regarding the duration of his absence remain unspecified. However, there is optimism surrounding his recovery. “We’re going to get him back, which is the most important part,” shared Scheyer.
The injury occurred in Duke’s recent 97-60 victory against Miami, where Proctor faced an issue at the end of the first half. After thorough imaging on Wednesday, the results were reassuring with no structural damage found. Scheyer explained that Proctor’s return would be based on how well he manages his pain and strengthens his movement. “We’ll be very cautious with him and smart. I don’t want to give an exact timetable because it depends on how we can get him moving over the next days, weeks, however long it takes,” Scheyer elaborated.
As it stands, Duke’s current record is impressive with a 25-3 overall and a 16-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), with three ACC games left on their schedule. These include a home match against Florida State on Saturday, a game with Wake Forest on Monday, and a visit to North Carolina on March 8. The ACC Tournament play begins with a quarterfinal game on March 13, potentially extending over the next two days. Duke is expected to be a No. 1 seed and a strong contender for the national title when the NCAA Tournament kicks off on either March 20 or 21.
Proctor’s knee injury happened when he was running backward, defending against a Miami fast break. His left leg buckled when he planted his foot, which led to him leaving the court with 36.3 seconds remaining in the half. He did not make a return, concluding the game with seven points over 14 minutes.
In his three seasons at Duke, all under Coach Scheyer, Proctor has been a consistent starter in 87 games. This season, he’s been averaging 11.8 points, ranking third on the team behind leading scorers Cooper Flagg (19.4) and Kon Knueppel (13.5). Proctor also leads the Blue Devils with 64 successful 3-point shots. Referring to Proctor’s contributions and experiences, Scheyer noted, “He’s the guy that’s been through it all… I’ve been right there with him… Look, he’s had way more ups than downs. As a player, he’s 79-21. He’s been a key guy for us since the get-go.”
