Patrick Ngongba returns in March Madness win vs TCU. What it meant for Duke basketball
Duke basketball's Patrick Ngongba II returned from injury in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against TCU after missing five-straight games.
GREENVILLE, S. C. — Patrick Ngongba II made his long-awaited return for Duke basketball in its second 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament game against TCU.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore had missed the previous five of the top-seeded Blue Devils’ (34-2) games with a lingering soreness in his right foot. He first checked in to the game at the 16:14 mark of the first half against the Horned Frogs, with many on their feet in the stands, marking his first appearance since Duke 's March 2 win over N. C.
State. "I started feeling it versus (N. C.
) State," Ngongba II said following the 81-58 win over TCU. "I'm not quite sure what exactly it was, but feeling soreness in my foot. " Ngongba said he found out ahead of Duke's NCAA Tournament opener against Siena he would be playing in the Round of 32.