The Duke basketball program could be playing in the Champions Classic elsewhere over COVID-19 concerns.
Just when you thought the Duke basketball non-conference schedule was set, a wrench gets thrown into all plans.
Luckily for the Blue Devils, Duke is only scheduled to play in one game in the Orlando bubble, but according to CBS Sports college basketball reporter Matt Norlander, the bubble might not be a viable concept for many programs for too much longer.
Norlander cites many concerns over COVID-19 protocols, specifically testing and potential quarantine restrictions, as the major roadblocks in getting the teams down to Disney.
However, the Champions Classic, which is comprised of Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Kansas, seems to be unfazed by these recent developments.
THREAD: College basketball’s season starts a month from today, but behind the scenes, according to sources, widespread concern is quickly escalating over the stability -- if not survival -- of every Orlando-based ESPN event. This is a huge deal.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 25, 2020
I neglected to include Kentucky + Duke on this, as those two are obviously included with Kansas and Michigan State in the Champions Classic. That is scheduled to be played in Orlando on Dec. 1. All indications are that annual big-time event is going to happen in whatever capacity
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 25, 2020
While the Champions Classic might not take place in Orlando, it could be on the move for another venue, as the event was originally scheduled for the United Center in Chicago, in a pre-COVID world.
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Duke is scheduled to play Michigan State in the Champions Classic on December 1.
Why moving or opting out of the Champions Classic makes sense for Duke basketball.
Director of Basketball Operations Nolan Smith joined the most recent episode of ‘Duke Twitter Live‘ and explained the reasoning for why the Blue Devils opted out of the ‘Battle 4 Atlantis’, now moved to South Dakota, was over COVID-19 concerns.
Smith did say that the program wants to make sure its players are healthy, but the main reason for pulling out of the tournament and hosting its own event in Durham was the health of its 73-year-old head coach.
What went into the decision to opt out of the Battle 4 Atlantis (which moved to South Dakota) and instead host their own event at Duke?
— Ryan Lommen (@TheDukeNation) October 24, 2020
For the health and safety of the 🐐, of course. pic.twitter.com/aJGEn3sTbX
We do not know if Mike Krzyzewski has any preexisting conditions, but he is already at a higher risk for a serious illness if contracting the coronavirus because of his age.
If Krzyzewski, Duke, or anyone associated with the program thinks that traveling to a location could potentially put the Hall of Famer at risk for getting the virus, you can be sure that the team will be pulling out of said game or event.
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While it will be a priority for everyone that the Champions Classic gets played this season, the health and safety of all those involved are much more important than playing a basketball game.