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Marshall Plumlee out 6-8 weeks with foot injury

Pro Am Basketball

North Carolina freshman J.P. Tokoto, playing for “The Bank Law Firm” team, goes up for a dunk as North Carolina State’s C.J. Leslie, center, playing for Team 751, and Duke’s Marshall Plumlee, during the Greater NC Pro Am basketball game Thursday, July 12, 2012, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/The Herald-Sun, Bernard Thomas)

AP

Duke’s post depth took a hit with a report that redshirt freshman forward Marshall Plumlee will be out 6-8 weeks with a stess fracture in his left foot, according to CBSSports.com.

The 6-8 Plumlee, who sat out last season because of the Blue Devils’ depth up front, was slated for major minutes this season behind other forwards, including older brother Mason, a senior.

Now, Duke will rely on the older Plumlee, as well as fellow senior Ryan Kelly to anchor the post game. Freshman Amile Jefferson will also get a boost in playing time, and so will redshirt freshman Alex Murphy.

Marshall Plumlee had shown promise averaging 7.7 points and 8.3 rebounds, playing in the Four Nations Cup this summer.

If the 6-to-8 week tag holds, this should bring him back sometime around the middle of December, in time for a three-game home stretch against Cornell, Elon and Santa Clara. Then again, if the rest of the four-man rotation at forward plays well, they could extend the recovery process until the Dukies get to ACC play, and then unleash the third Plumlee.

It’s unfortunate, but Duke has the depth to survive. Just have to feel bad for Marshall, who now has his debut halted again after a season of waiting.

David Harten is the editor of The Backboard Chronicles. You can follow him on Twitter at @David_Harten.