Duke is getting its captain back: Starting guard Jeremy Roach is available to return from a three-game injury absence Saturday against No. 17 Miami, per a team release Saturday morning.
Scheyer last provided an update on Roach's status during a Friday media availability, calling the Leesburg, Va., native "a game-time decision" against the Hurricanes.
"He's been able to progress, but really hasn't done a whole lot," Scheyer said Friday. "So still up in there, game-time decision, we'll see how he is, but we want him to be comfortable whenever that time is to come back. But there's a chance for tomorrow and we'll see today and tomorrow morning."
Roach last played in the Blue Devils' Jan. 4 loss to N.C. State before he was ruled out of a Jan. 7 win against Boston College with a reaggravated toe injury. The junior guard had "been playing through pain," Scheyer said after Roach missed Duke's Dec. 10 win against Maryland Eastern Shore, after he initially suffered the injury Nov. 27 against Purdue in the Phil Knight Legacy final.
In his third season, Roach is Duke's second-leading scorer at 11.9 points per game and the team's assists leader with 3.2 per game. Freshman guard Tyrese Proctor reentered the starting five with Roach out of the lineup; he registered career-highs of 17 points and 37 minutes in the Blue Devils' loss to Clemson last time out. Duke went 2-1 in Roach's absence, winning at the Eagles and at home against Pittsburgh before falling on the road to the Tigers.
Elsewhere on the injury report, Jaylen Blakes will play Saturday after breaking his nose in practice Wednesday. The 6-foot-2 guard, who is up to 5.2 points in 19.3 minutes per game amid a breakout sophomore season, will sport a mask against Miami.
"Jaylen will be ready to go," Scheyer said. "Our medical team did a great job. About an hour after, they were able to reduce the fracture, and he handled it like an absolute champ and is tough as nails. So he's able to play, he'll just be wearing a mask for the time being. And he's shown a lot about just doing whatever he needs to to get out there on the floor."
The Hurricanes, who sit in a four-way tie for second place in the ACC at 6-2, meet the Blue Devils in Cameron Indoor Stadium at 12 p.m. Saturday.
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Jonathan Levitan is a Trinity senior and was previously sports editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume.