In Duke’s match against Notre Dame, Cooper Flagg was unavoidable. With 42 points in the game against Notre Dame, the star rookie may have had his best game of the season. Regardless, it appears like Cooper Flagg is still doing very well but coach Jon Scheyer has additional work to do. With a key player out with an injury, Duke will need to make adjustments as they get ready to play Miami.

Duke basketball is in a tough spot after head coach Jon Scheyer gave a worrisome update on junior forward Maliq Brown. Brown played less than a minute in Duke’s recent 86-78 victory over Notre Dame after suffering a knee injury in the first half. Scheyer voiced concern over Brown’s condition, saying, “the fact that he couldn’t go back in the game I don’t think is a good sign.” 

On January 13, Scheyer revealed that Brown has a sprained knee and will be absent for several weeks, possibly longer. “He’ll miss an extended period of time here … He’s going to be out for the next several games here, minimum.” Said Scheyer. Brown’s absence will be felt more because of his versatility and knack for disrupting the opposition offense. Off the bench Maliq has made an impact for Duke.

Maliq Brown offers Duke versatility of guarding multiple positions and is an important part of Duke’s perimeter defense. Weighing 222 pounds and measuring 6’9 tall. Brown is an advantage in many defensive strategies because he can guard basketball players in the 1–5 positions on the court. What makes Brown stand out with his defense is several important things. He’s got a knack for breaking up ball handlers’ rhythms. Brown, who averages 3.3 steals per 40 minutes. He is a big reason Duke currently sits at No.2 in the nation per KenPom in defensive efficiency. And his inclusion in the 2023 All-ACC Defensive Team has confirmed he is one of the best defenders in the conference and around the country.

Brown is a “defensive menace,” according to Coach Jon Scheyer. He is someone who adds to Duke’s defensive contributions, whether it’s the ability to generate deflections and steals. Duke is  now 14-2 and atop the Atlantic Coast Conference. Brown’s absence might hurt their efforts in trying to hold onto their conference lead. So without Maliq, what are Duke’s defensive options?

Who do you think coach Jon Scheyer will call upon next?

Duke basketball has plenty of candidates to fill the void in the frontcourt created by Maliq Brown’s injury. Among them is Khaman Maluach. Maluach, a 6-foot-10 freshman from South Sudan, definitely showed promise with his impressive performance. He recently scored 19 points and 10 rebounds — against Notre Dame over the weekend. His ability to give as much defensive or offensive support as he can is something that allows him to be a good candidate for extra minutes when Brown is absent.

Also fellow freshman Patrick Ngongba provides size and length at 6 feet 11 inches. Then there’s Mason Gillis, Purdue transfer and sharpshooter. His shooting range and his defense make him an important part of the frontcourt rotation. These guys are going to have to work together to replace the void created by Brown, who not only was a key Duke defender but an efficient scorer as well.

With a 14–2 overall and 6–0 ACC record, Duke is ranked No. 4. The squad will face tough opponents in the forthcoming weeks, including Miami on 15th. Without Brown’s contributions, Scheyer may have to figure out how to make the defense work and how to adjust the game plan. These games are huge not only for their conference standings. But also as a confidence builder as they attempt to make the playoffs.