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Duke Basketball: Alex O’Connell undergoes successful surgery

By Kevin Connelly

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 11: Alex O'Connell #15 of the Duke Blue Devils goes to the basket against Isaac Neilson #22 of the Utah Valley Wolverines at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 99-69. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 11: Alex O'Connell #15 of the Duke Blue Devils goes to the basket against Isaac Neilson #22 of the Utah Valley Wolverines at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 99-69. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Basketball sophomore was injured in Canada, but has now underwent successful surgery and is expected back before the start of the regular season.

It was a rough start to the 2018-19 season for sophomore Alex O’Connell as he was entered into the starting lineup to start the Duke Canada Tour against Ryerson University but he didn’t last long as in the opening minutes he was hit in the face.

O’Connell did not return to the game and it was announced after the game that he suffered an orbital floor fracture and would not play for the remaining two games in Canada.

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Thorough team pictures and video of the bench, it appeared O’Connell had a severe black eye, but he stayed with the team in Canada and was on the bench against the University of Toronto and McGill University.

O’Connell has now undergone surgery on that injury the team announced that he is doing well and is expected to return in late September, more than enough time for the Blue Devils two exhibition games in Cameron Indoor in late October, ultimately leading to the season opener against Kentucky in the Champions Classic.

The Roswell, Georgia native averaged 3.3 points per game as a freshman and was a consistent threat from three point range, shooting 48.9% from deep.

It is safe to assume that O’Connell was inserted into the starting lineup against Ryerson University because of the injuries to freshman Cam Reddish and Tre Jones and O’Connell could be the sixth man off the Blue Devils bench to start the season.

Alex O’Connell is poised for a breakout sophomore season and although this injury is minor set back to begin his second year in Durham, it’s a great sign that he should be back on the floor before the regular season kicks off.

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