🤫 The Duke Blue Devils finished their short, successful “Brotherhood” tournament with two dominant victories, showcasing their immense talent and depth. But while the national spotlight often focuses on five-star freshmen and superstar veterans, an under-the-radar sophomore is rapidly emerging as a foundational piece: center Patrick Ngongba.
Following wins over former Blue Devils-coached teams Howard and Niagara—defeating them by a combined 95 points—the chatter isn’t about the blowouts themselves. It’s about the quiet, calculated breakout of Ngongba, who is proving he can be the dominant five-man the Duke Basketball program desperately needs.
The Question Mark at Center
Heading into the 2025-26 campaign, depth at the center position was one of the biggest question marks for coach Jon Scheyer’s squad. Patrick Ngongba was always projected as the eventual starter, but a frustrating rookie season marred by injuries limited his time on the floor. He often flashed potential but lacked the consistent dominance required of a starting center on a championship-caliber team.
However, in his recent outings, Ngongba has answered those questions emphatically. He is looking dramatically more comfortable on the offensive end, and his impact is translating directly into the stat sheet. For example, his stats show a huge jump from his freshman year (3.9 points, 2.7 rebounds in 10.6 MPG) to his sophomore output (averaging 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 22.7 MPG through the first six games).
Ngongba is Finding His Offensive Comfort
Ngongba’s breakout is rooted in his improved comfort and expanded skill set. He is exhibiting vastly improved footwork, showing greater versatility, and most importantly, becoming a reliable interior scoring threat. His efficiency is staggering; he went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field against Niagara (scoring 17 points, 8 rebounds) and 4-for-4 against Kansas (13 points, 6 rebounds) in the Champions Classic.
This offensive evolution is crucial. His ability to score inside—and even stretch the floor on occasion—relieves pressure from Duke’s perimeter players and opens up driving lanes. The consistency and reliability he has shown over his last few games suggests the injury woes are behind him, and the full extent of his potential is being unlocked.
Gearing Up for the Gauntlet
The timing of Patrick Ngongba’s emergence couldn’t be better. The Duke Blue Devils are now gearing up for the most daunting part of their non-conference schedule, which could be the most difficult in the entire country.
Jon Scheyer has never shied away from challenging his teams, and this season is no exception. Having already secured impressive wins over Texas and a ranked Kansas squad, Duke now faces a grueling stretch of four ranked opponents across its next five games, including Arkansas in Chicago and a road trip to Michigan State.
If Duke Basketball hopes to navigate this brutal schedule and cement itself as a consensus national title contender, the quiet consistency of Patrick Ngongba will be the loud factor that makes the difference. He is no longer just a question mark; he is rapidly emerging into the star center the Blue Devils need to dominate the paint and win against the nation’s elite.
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