Duke basketball: Mark Mitchell still questionable for Arizona matchup

Duke basketball forward Mark Mitchell is still questionable with an ankle injury. 

Mark Mitchell was one of the most reliable players for the Duke basketball program last season until an injury prevented him from playing in Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament and was held out again in the season opener this year with an ankle sprain.

Mitchell appeared in good spirits on the sidelines and did not have a walking boot on as the Blue Devils defeated Dartmouth 92-54.

Jon Scheyer said following the victory that the versatile forward was “day-to-day.”

The competition takes a significant rise for Duke over the next week when No. 12 Arizona makes the trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday night and No. 4 Michigan State awaits in the Champions Classic in Chicago on Tuesday and Mitchell will be needed if the Blue Devils want to continue its unbeaten start to the season.

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However, Jon Scheyer is not ready to fully commit that Mitchell will be on the floor Friday night.

“He practiced [Wednesday], had a good day,” the Duke head coach said on Thursday in his press conference.

“He’s still not 100-percent, so [Thursday] will be an important day. Hopefully, if he has a good day, hopefully, he’s on track to play in the game [Friday].”

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Mark Mitchell averaged 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game last season while shooting 46.9-percent from the floor and 35.2-percent from 3-point range.

Ryan Young started in place of Mitchell on Monday night as Kyle Filipowski moved to power forward after he was expected to start at center throughout the preseason.

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“Again, can’t say for sure [if he will play] until we see him out there for two days in a row,” Scheyer added.

Tipoff between No. 2 Duke (1-0) and No. 12 Arizona (1-0) is schedule for 7:00p.m. ET (ESPN2).