Even so, Brown, currently leading the No. 2-ranked Blue Devils (18-2, 10-0) with his 1.5 steals per game while also averaging 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists as a workmanlike spark plug off the bench across his 15 outings to date, made another positive stride on Wednesday.

Junior forward Maliq Brown has been sidelined for nearly three weeks with a sprained knee. The Duke defensive specialist is making progress toward a return.

No player on Duke basketball's roster has played in the UNC rivalry game more than Tyrese Proctor. Here's why Proctor could be an X-factor.