“I saw just a ton of growth. I think we have a team with really good depth.” Jon Scheyer was his squad’s biggest hype man after No. 6 Duke’s 83-76 win over No. 18 Tennessee. Only across the final 20 minutes to pick up their second exhibition win before officially tipping the season off on Tuesday, the Blue Devils outscored the Vols 46-33 vs. Texas at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Even while praising his guys for a standout group effort, Jon Scheyer didn’t forget about senior forward Maliq Brown, who had to sit this one out. “Missing Maliq, of course; we have to get him back.” He added.

Brown has been on the sidelines with a knee injury after a minor procedure in late September. He even remained on the bench during Duke’s Countdown to Craziness scrimmage earlier this month.

On Sunday, after Duke’s exhibition win over Tennessee, Jon Scheyer provided a key update on Brown’s injury and potential return.

When asked if sitting him out was mostly out of caution like before and if there is a timeline for his return, Scheyer said, “Yeah, you know, this week is important and, you know, our goal is to be ready for Texas in that first game.” With the exhibition victory behind them, the Blue Devils are locked in on their November 4 matchup against Texas at the Dick Vitale Invitational in Charlotte.

Further, Scheyer added, “But we’re also just keeping the big picture in mind; he’s so important to us, his ability to change our defense, his ability to play multiple positions, so I can’t say today. But I can tell you that everything in our power we’re going to do to get him ready for the first game without setting him back for going forward.”

Scheyer insisted that Brown will be back when the Blue Devils play Texas. Jon Scheyer has time and again called his 6-foot-9 forward a “defensive menace,” and he’d certainly be back for the 2025-26 season beginning the fourth of November in Charlotte against Texas.

Brown’s shoulder rehab went well over the offseason. It’s the knee soreness that has slowed him down recently. He has been able to take part in individual drills, though he’s still being kept out of full scrimmages as he works through things on a week-to-week basis. The goal remains to have him ready or at least very close when the real action begins. But he’s not the only one who’s been sidelined during this recent stretch.

Latest injury update on Jon Scheyer’s freshman guard

Only a few hours before tipoff on Tuesday night, Duke Blue Devils’ social channels confirmed what fans were hoping not to hear. Except for Maliq Brown, Freshman guard Dame Sarr was also out for the Blue Devils’ exhibition against UCF and Tennessee.

Despite their absence, Duke had the winning odds in their favor and walked away with a 96–71 win. In the first half of Tuesday, in particular, Duke’s defense looked shaky. They barely clung to a 40–39 lead before finally tightening up after the break.

While Brown was on the sidelines with a knee injury, Sarr, the freshman and former five-star recruit, sat out due to an oblique injury. Head coach Jon Scheyer sees both of them as “two of our best defenders,” and all for the right reasons.

Both of them have the ability to guard multiple positions. Maliq can defend one through five as well as anyone in the country, and Dame can switch one through four without a problem. That versatility is what the Blue Devils missed most in the exhibition games. Offensively, they both connect everything and perhaps will be back by the fourth of November. “[Their injuries are] not serious.” Jon Scheyer confirmed. The idea was just to stay cautious with their recoveries.