Duke’s Brown not 100% but anticipates bigger function

SAN ANTONIO– Duke reserve forward Maliq Brown said he’s ready for a larger role in the Last Four this weekend after a shoulder injury substantially cut his playing time him in the Blue Devils’ games last weekend.Brown missed out on 4 games– two in the NCAA tournament after 2 in the ACC competition– in the wake of his 2nd left shoulder dislocation. That injury took place in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament against Georgia Tech. His earlier shoulder injury came Feb. 17 against Virginia.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Duke’s plan heading into the Sugary food 16 against Arizona was to utilize Brown

only if the

game required it. When Duke’s cutting edge entered into nasty difficulty, he played four minutes versus Arizona and then 3 minutes in the Blue Devils’dominant win in the Elite Eight versus Alabama.Brown stated Friday that he’s faring better after a full week of practice and a concentrate on more live representatives from the medical staff. He

stated he’s all set to go back to close to his old role, in which he averaged more than 15 minutes per game. “So I would absolutely state it’s a different point of view [from last week],” Brown informed ESPN.

“I’m not exactly sure of my percentage, but to be truthful, I feel good, compared to recently I feel much better.” Duke’s Maliq Brown, who missed out on four games after dislocating his left shoulder in the ACC competition, said he’s prepared for a larger role in the Final Four following minimal minutes in the East Regional semifinal and final. Lance King/Getty Images

Brown acknowledged that he’s not one hundred percent. He admitted to being hindered and thinking about contact last weekend.

“It was certainly a thought– just a thought,” Brown said. “Certainly simply returning from a second injury like that so quick. Certainly an idea that was going on my head the very first couple days, but I feel like as soon as the first day I got up there, I believe it was deflection or something and after that I was simply secured.

“Not attempting to consider my injury or anything, simply attempting to keep the team on the exact same page and simply go out there and get that win.”

Brown is a 6-foot-9, 222-pound forward whose worth to the team belies his modest stats– 2.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He’s a key protective chess piece for Duke, as his capability to switch, protect several positions and deflect passes makes him a disruptive force and a pivotal role player.He plays an

average of 15.8 minutes per game, a number that’s watered down due to the fact that of a handful of injury-shortened performances. He played 29 minutes versus Louisville, 25 minutes in Duke’s win versus Auburn in December and 24 minutes at Arizona.Brown moved to Duke this year from Syracuse, sacrificing more minutes and touches for more wins. That includes an opportunity to play an essential role in the Last Four.”I have actually been enjoying minute since

I got here in the summer season,”Brown stated. “Whatever that I basically thought was going to occur, besides the injuries, [has taken place]” I’ve been enjoying the moment given that I have actually been here. It’s absolutely a dream come to life from high school, just wanting to obviously put on a Duke uniform.”