DURHAM -- Duke freshman center Mason Plumlee, who missed the No. 6 Blue Devils' first six basketball games with a broken wrist, may return to make his regular-season debut at Wisconsin on Wednesday, team spokesman Matt Plizga said Monday.
Mason Plumlee suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left wrist during practice on Nov. 11.
His brother, Duke sophomore forward Miles Plumlee, said Mason went through a full practice with the team Monday.
The injury did not require surgery, prompting coach Mike Krzyzewski to say Plumlee might be out for weeks rather than months. Plizga said team medical personnel will continue to monitor Plumlee's progress after practice through the early part of this week.
Barring complications, Plumlee will probably dress and play Wednesday in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge game at Wisconsin (9:15 p.m., ESPN), Plizga said. Plumlee is a 6-foot-10 McDonald's All-American who was tagged a likely starter by Krzyzewski before preseason practice started.
Junior guard Nolan Smith said he has seen Plumlee's spirits improve as the date of his return to practice drew closer. Miles Plumlee said his brother's return will bring another dimension to the Duke offense.
"He's big," Miles said. "He can finish inside. He's athletic. We can run the ball through him, and [he can] pass. When he's on the floor, it's a whole other person we can go to."
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