Jon Scheyer gives injury update on Jaylen Blakes after scary fall
During Duke‘s blowout victory over James Madison during the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32, several Blue Devil guards finished the game banged up.
The worst injury appeared to be suffered Duke guard Jaylen Blakes, who attempted a fast-break dunk and was met by a defender at the rim. The contact caused him to flip in mid-air and landed on his upper back. He left the game and did not return.
Head coach Jon Scheyer has now revealed the latest on Blakes — who is expected to suit up for the Blue Devils against Houston.
“That was really scary in the moment. Fortunately, Jaylen got back the next morning,” Scheyer revealed before Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup. “You always wonder the next day how they feel and with a fall like that, and Jaylen has been great. He’s felt really good. We didn’t do much as a team on Monday anyway, so it gave him a chance to get back, but he’s been full-go ever since, and he’ll be ready for tomorrow night.”
The junior guard would play five minutes for Duke against James Madison, scoring two points and logging one steal before his scary fall. The New Jersey native is averaging 1.9 points per game through 29 appearances for Duke this season.
It wasn’t just Blakes who was hurting after Sunday’s 93-55 win. Fellow guards Jeremy Roach and Jared McCain were also banged up during the matchup.
Roach was the first to sustain injury, dislocating his pinky finger but would eventually return to the game and scored 15 points and put up 7 assists during the win. McCain, who was the MVP of Duke’s win after scoring 30 points on eight-made 3-point baskets, was seen walking off the floor with an ice pack wrapped around his left leg, but he’s expected to be full-go against the Cougars on Friday.
Duke enters the game as a 4.5-point underdog to Houston, per FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under point total is set at 134.5 points. ESPN Analytics gives Houston a 76.5 percent chance of defeating the Blue Devils and KenPom is predicting a final score of 69-66 in Houston’s favor.
Tip-off between the Blue Devils and Cougars is scheduled for Friday night at 9:39 p.m. ET. The winner will advance to the Elite Eight to battle either NC State or Marquette.