DURHAM — Duke basketball player Alex O’Connell underwent successful surgery Thursday to repair the orbital bone fracture he sustained during the Blue Devils’ exhibition tour in Canada last week.
The surgery was performed by Dr. David Powers. O’Connell is expected be ready for the start of practice in late September.
The sophomore guard started and played the first three minutes of Duke’s game versus Ryerson University last Wednesday in Toronto before sustaining the injury. He missed the remaining two games of the Duke Canada Tour. The Blue Devils won all three games.
O’Connell played in all 36 games as a freshman, starting once. Although he averaged only 3.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game, he led the team with a .489 3-point shooting percentage (22 of 45).
