COVID-19 protocols sideline Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski
Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski has been sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.
Shocking news hit the Duke basketball world late Friday night as Mike Krzyzewski will not coach in Saturday’s meeting with Florida State.
The team announced that the Hall of Famer will quarantine after coming into contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Associate head coach Jon Scheyer will assume head coaching duties for the Blue Devils’ critical meeting against the Seminoles.
Since finding out about his close contact, Krzyzewski has not been in contact with any members of the Duke traveling party as the team is already in Tallahassee, Florida.
It is not known if Mike Krzyzewski has tested positive for COVID-19.
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Krzyzewski has not missed a game since the 2017-18 season when former associate head coach Jeff Capel took over head coaching duties. Saturday will be the first time Jon Scheyer will act as a head coach in his college basketball coaching career.
Duke has not played since December 16 after the program canceled the remainder of its non-conference schedule over concerns surrounding the virus, and its most recent scheduled game against Pittsburgh was postponed because of COVID-19 positive tests within the Panthers program.
Saturday night is scheduled to be the first time the Blue Devils play in an arena where spectators are allowed to be in the building.
Duke basketball has been vocal about playing in the pandemic
Following the loss to then-No. 6 Illinois on December 8, Krzyzewski said the NCAA needed to ‘reevaluate’ playing college basketball in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, something that was met with heavy criticism in the college basketball world.
The Duke women’s basketball program canceled the remainder of its season following positive tests within its team, a decision that was player-driven.
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Sophomore Wendell Moore said on Thursday that the men’s program has not talked about shutting down activities for the season.
No. 20 Duke and No. 18 Florida State will tipoff at 8:00pm EST (ESPN2) on Saturday, January 2.