Last season during the final match against Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, the Blue Devils aimed to extend their victorious streak to 11 games and secure a spot in the tournament's second weekend. However, just moments before the game ended, news emerged that Mark Mitchell, a freshman forward, would be sidelined due to a knee injury he sustained during the shoot-around. Mitchell's absence, especially given his reputation as a defensive cornerstone, left a noticeable hole in Duke's lineup. Unfortunately, this gap contributed to Duke's season concluding in a disappointing loss.
Reports surrounding Mitchell's injury have been somewhat inconsistent. He addressed everything during an appearance on The Brotherhood podcast, aiming to clarify the events of the previous March. Mitchell revealed, "People thought I got hurt in shoot-around…I actually got hurt against Oral Roberts [in the Round of 64] in the first half and I felt it but I just kept playing and my adrenaline was running,"
Despite his injury, the highly regarded 5-star prospect managed to contribute significantly, tallying eight points and seven rebounds in Duke's win over Oral Roberts (74-51). Mitchell recounted, "We got to shoot-around the next day and I was trying to push through it and it wasn’t feeling like it should, but even up until the game I was saying ‘I’ll be fine. We all have those things happen.'"
Ironically, Mitchell's name was listed in the starting lineup on that day. Yet, during warmups, he told assistant coach Amile Jefferson that his knee wasn't responding as he hoped, rendering him unable to play. Despite the pain, Mitchell emphasized that he was determined to play.
Officially diagnosed with a partial meniscus tear, Mitchell underwent surgery shortly after the team's return to Durham following the loss. He downplayed the severity of the injury, mentioning a relatively swift recovery period of around six weeks. In hindsight, Mitchell mused, "Even if we went further in the tournament I might have been able to play... By the time I got the surgery I forgot I was hurt. It wasn’t hurting anymore."
Remarkably, Mitchell, who had started all of Duke's previous 35 games in his freshman year, registered solid averages of 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Assuring his present state of well-being, Mitchell shared, "I'm completely fine now, with no lingering issues."
Regarding his absence from early off-season workouts due to a quad injury, Mitchell clarified that this ailment was unrelated to his knee injury from the previous spring. With video evidence supporting this, the 6-foot-8 forward confirmed that he rejoined workouts in the final weeks, displaying unrestricted movement.
As Duke's forthcoming season approaches, Mitchell is slated to be a key starting forward, poised to advance his progress as a pivotal figure in the Blue Devils' roster.
