17North Carolina Tar Heels
1Duke Blue Devils
ESPN | Saturday, March 7th 6:30 PM EST
Duke starting center Patrick Ngongba is game-time decision for the No. 1 Blue Devils’ regular-season finale against No. 17 North Carolina, which will be without star forward Caleb Wilson.
Ngongba carried the game-time decision designation on the pregame ACC availability report.
Wilson is out after breaking his right thumb in practice while dunking Thursday. Wilson was trying to work his way back from a fracture in his left hand. Wilson finished practice Thursday, a source told WRAL’s Pat Welter, and was cleared for 5-on-5 work after Thursday’s practice.
But he got an X-ray on Friday when the thumb was still hurting and it revealed the fracture. Wilson was on track to play against Duke, the source told Welter. ESPN first reported the details.
Confirmed @PeteThamel report on gameday with a source. Caleb Wilson injured his thumb dunking Thursday but finished practice. Was actually cleared for 5v5 on the left hand and was trending towards playing, but Friday x-rays revealed the fracture in the right thumb. Crazy. #unc
— Pat Welter WRAL (@PatrickWelter) March 7, 2026
UNC is 5-1 without Wilson, but it faces a stiff test against the top-ranked Blue Devils. Duke (28-2, 16-1 in the ACC) has clinched the ACC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in next week’s ACC Tournament.
UNC (24-6, 12-5) is seeking a regular-season sweep of the Blue Devils. The Tar Heels handed Duke its lone conference loss this season, a 71-68 victory in Chapel Hill. Wilson had 23 points to help lead the Tar Heels to the victory in that one. Seth Trimble’s 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining gave UNC its first lead of the game.
Wilson leads the team in points (19.8) and rebounds (9.4).
Ngongba is averaging 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
The Blue Devils are 14-0 at home this season.Â