Maliq Brown injury update: Pete Thamel gives latest on status of Duke big

The 2025 Final Four is on Saturday evening. And Duke fans are curious about an injury update on one of their key defenders, Maliq Brown, who’s been banged up for much of the tournament. On Saturday evening on the College GameDay set, ahead of the Duke-Houston game, Pete Thamel offered up an update on his status.

“There’s a little more ambiguity for Duke’s Maliq Brown. He only played seven combined minutes in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games against Arizona and Alabama. Brown told me yesterday, he feels like he’s ready to go his normal 15 minutes. Brown doesn’t have gaudy stats but he’s a really key defensive piece for the Blue Devils. He’s 6-9, 222 pounds. He averages nearly four rebounds a game,” Thamel explained.

“In a rugged game like against Houston, that twice dislocated left shoulder is going to get tested for Brown. It’ll be interesting for those Duke fans that will maybe munching on towels watching the Blue Devils. They need Brown back at full health,” Thamel finished.

This season, Brown has averaged 2.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while getting 1.2 steals per outing. He’s appeared in 25 games, only playing 15.8 minutes per outing. And his injury has limited him in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, so that’s important to note.

Brown is coming off a sophomore season at Syracuse where he averaged 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds, also nabbing 2.2 steals per game. He emerged as a starter in conference play and was third on the team playing just over 33 minutes a night in 20 ACC games.

Florida and Auburn will face off at 6:09 PM EST on Saturday night. Duke and Houston will clash in the other matchup of the Final Four. That one will take place at 8:49 PM EST.

Alex Weber also contributed to this article.