WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a dramatic turnaround at Capital One Arena on Friday night, Duke's Caleb Foster made a stunning return from a fractured foot to spark the top-seeded Blue Devils to an 80-75 victory over fifth-seeded St. John's, securing their third consecutive berth in the NCAA men's basketball Elite Eight.
Foster, a 6-foot-5 junior point guard who had undergone surgery just 20 days earlier, entered the game on a scooter due to his injury but left the court as the hero of Duke's comeback. He scored 11 points in the second half, including seven straight during a crucial 9-2 run that erased a 10-point deficit. The performance moved Duke coach Jon Scheyer to tears in the postgame press conference, where he praised Foster's resilience.
"Still a little stunned with what happened, to be honest with you guys," Scheyer said. "He had no business playing tonight. 99% of guys do not come back to play under the circumstances of what's happened to him. It was incredible the way he willed us. There's no analytics. There's no stats that can measure how big this dude's heart is for what he did."
The injury occurred in the second half of Duke's regular-season finale against North Carolina on March 9, sidelining Foster for the final five games of the regular season and the early tournament rounds. He had limited practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday but had not played 5-on-5 basketball since the injury until Friday. Scheyer initially hoped for just 8-10 minutes from Foster to spell freshman Cayden Boozer, but the guard delivered far more, playing without a turnover and providing veteran poise in high-pressure moments.
"He completely surpassed my expectations of what I expected, what I was hoping for, and obviously you guys saw it, we needed every last shot, basket, poise," Scheyer added. "He was also the guy -- he's our most experienced guy in these moments. So I thought his voice in the huddle, the look he had was completely determined to win, and I thought that really helped us, especially when we got down in the second half."
St. John's, riding momentum from their upset win over Kansas in the previous round, came out firing on all cylinders. The Red Storm drained nine 3-pointers in the first half and 13 for the game, marking their third straight tournament contest with double-digit makes from beyond the arc—a feat they hadn't accomplished in over two months before the postseason began. Reserve big man Ruben Prey, who had only 14 career 3s in 69 games entering the night, contributed three in the first half alone, helping St. John's build an early advantage.
The Red Storm's defensive intensity carried into the second half, where they forced three turnovers in a four-possession span and converted each into points. An Ian Jackson jumper with 15:01 remaining pushed St. John's lead to 10 points, putting Duke on the ropes. But Scheyer responded with tactical adjustments: switching to a matchup zone defense that had ignited a comeback against Siena in the first round, and inserting Foster after his quiet seven-minute first-half stint.
The zone disrupted St. John's rhythm, contesting their perimeter shots after a first half filled with open looks. "We didn't run what we were supposed to run," St. John's forward Dillon Mitchell said. "We were messed up, not getting to our spots." Duke also tightened its ball security, committing just one turnover after the 16:57 mark, denying St. John's easy transition buckets and forcing them into a half-court grind.
Foster's impact was immediate and profound. His seven unanswered points ignited the rally, and he capped the game with two straight baskets in the final 2:15 to maintain Duke's edge. Teammate Isaiah Evans led the scoring with 25 points, including a stepback 3-pointer at 3:54 that gave Duke a 70-69 lead they never surrendered. Cameron Boozer bounced back from a sluggish start to notch 22 points and 10 rebounds, providing a double-double in the paint.
"As soon as the doctor told me that it's a chance, I just took it and ran with it," Foster said of his decision to play. "That's where my mindset has been from here on out. I wanted to come out and provide anything possible, experience, whatever the team needed. I didn't know what we needed or what to expect, but just providing a boost out there any way I can."
This season has been a redemption arc for Foster, who burst onto the scene as a freshman but saw his role diminish last year to just 14 minutes per game. As Duke's starting point guard in 2024, he's averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, shooting over 40% from 3-point range. His commitment, Scheyer noted, has been unwavering.
"His commitment to Duke, his commitment to me and this program has been unmatched," Scheyer said emotionally. "And then for today, most guys wouldn't come back, just that's the reality ... This decision had to come from him, and I want to support him in that decision. And what he did, it was a surreal thing to coach. I really felt like he was going to will us to victory, and that's what he did."
For St. John's, the loss ends a surprising tournament run that saw them advance past Kansas and into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. Coach Rick Pitino's squad, known for its up-tempo style and sharpshooting, faltered against Duke's adjustments, shooting just 37% from the field in the second half. Mitchell's comments highlighted the frustration of losing their offensive flow, a sentiment echoed in reports from the game.
Duke's victory sets up a highly anticipated Elite Eight matchup, likely against a formidable opponent from the other regional semifinal. The Blue Devils, as the tournament's overall No. 1 seed, have now won 10 straight games and are chasing a fourth straight Final Four appearance under Scheyer. Foster's return adds depth and leadership to a young roster featuring freshmen like Evans and Boozer, who have shouldered much of the load.
The game at Capital One Arena drew a charged crowd, with Duke fans traveling from Durham to support their team in the nation's capital. Postgame, Foster scooted out of the presser, a symbol of his grit and the improbable nature of his contribution. As the tournament progresses, Duke's path to the championship seems brighter, bolstered by the heart of players like Foster who defy the odds.
With the Elite Eight looming, Scheyer reflected on the bigger picture: a program built on resilience and loyalty. Duke's tournament journey, now three wins deep, underscores the blend of talent and toughness that has defined the Blue Devils in recent years. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as Foster and company aim to extend their streak.