Why Patrick Ngongba Has Been Crucial Defensively for Blue Devils

The No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils boast what is likely the most elite defensive unit in all of college basketball, with suffocating length at every position. Duke has won its last seven games by an average margin of 23.4 points, and hasn't allowed 65 or more points to any of those opponents.

Head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff build their teams revolved around positional length, versatility, and switchability. It's no coincidence that the Blue Devils are the second-tallest team in college basketball and also ranked No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom.

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Duke boasts elite positional defenders on the floor at all times with guys such as Cameron Boozer, Maliq Brown, Caleb Foster, and Dame Sarr. However, one player doesn't get enough praise for how important he is to the Blue Devils' defensive scheme.

That player is sophomore center Patrick Ngongba, who might be the biggest breakout player on the entire team. His box score stats will rarely jump out at fans, but he has been a critical piece to Duke's success defensively as the only true center on the entire roster.

Feb 24, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21) passes as Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Brady Koehler (6) and forward Ryder Frost (7) defend during the second half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

As a rookie, Ngongba averaged 3.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists a game in 10.6 minutes of action. This season, those averages have jumped to 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists a night in 22.4 minutes.

Feb 16, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba II (21) dunks the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Patrick Ngonba Is One of Duke’s Most Important Defenders

As previously stated, Ngongba's impact won't show up in the stat sheet too often. However, the advanced analytics show how crucial he has been to Duke's success on the defensive end of the floor.

According to EvanMiya.com, Ngongba currently ranks ninth nationally in Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating with a rating of 4.82. This metric essentially measures a player's defensive value for his team when he is on the floor versus when he is not.

Feb 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21) warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Interestingly, when looking at Box Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating, which measures a player's defensive value strictly based on his box score statistics, Ngongba is nowhere to be found on the list.

One of the most valuable aspects of these advanced metrics is that they show much more than a general box score can show from a game-to-game basis. Ngongba hasn't just been a good defender for Duke, but an elite one.

The only Blue Devil with a higher DBPR than Ngongba is freshman Cameron Boozer, who is the best player in all of college basketball and the runaway favorite to win the National Player of the Year award.

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