Duke coach Jon Scheyer is "optimistic" that versatile forward Maliq Brown will return this season from a shoulder injury.
The 6-foot-9 junior was hurt after playing just 10 minutes in the third-ranked Blue Devils' win at Virginia on Monday. He appeared to injure his left arm reaching into a passing lane to deflect a ball, and had his arm in a sling afterward.
Scheyer said Thursday that medical imaging had found nothing unexpected with what he described as a dislocated shoulder. The Blue Devils (23-3, 15-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) step out of league play to face the Big Ten's Illinois in New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.