Syracuse, N.Y. — Maliq Brown, a former Syracuse player, has rejoined Duke’s practice and might be ready to play as early as this weekend, as reported by Brandon Marks of The Athletic.
Marks reports that Duke head coach Jon Scheyer mentioned Brown’s availability will depend on his conditioning. The Blue Devils are set to face their rivals, North Carolina, on Saturday.
Brown’s possible return this weekend makes it likely he’ll play when Duke faces Syracuse at the JMA Dome on Wednesday. He has been sidelined since January 11 due to a sprained knee.
His comeback will be one of the major storylines when Duke visits the Orange next week, alongside what could be the only Dome appearance for Duke’s freshman star, Cooper Flagg.
Syracuse fans are expected to greet Brown with a tough reception upon his return. He would have played a significant role for the Orange this season but chose to transfer to an ACC rival instead.
At Duke, Brown’s playing time has decreased from nearly 30 minutes per game to 18 minutes, with averages of just 2.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. However, his defensive presence remains strong, with 1.5 steals per game, the most on the team. Although Duke has managed to win without him, head coach Jon Scheyer has acknowledged that Brown’s absence has been felt.
“It’s not just the defense,” Scheyer said. “It’s also the disruption he creates, which can lead to easy baskets.”
Last year at Syracuse, Brown averaged 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds, shooting an impressive 69.8% from the field. Though his stats have dropped at Duke, he’s part of a successful program.
The Blue Devils, currently ranked No. 2, are 17-2 this season and are led by Flagg, a freshman who is expected to be the top pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
