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CLEMSON, SC – JANUARY 14: Mike Krzyzewski head coach for Duke during a college basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Clemson Tigers on January 14, 2020, at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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CLEMSON, SC – JANUARY 14: Mike Krzyzewski head coach for Duke during a college basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Clemson Tigers on January 14, 2020, at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The last time the Duke Blue Devils were 3-2 at the start of the season, they ended as regular-season champions. This season might not be the same, as it looks like they are on the brink of canceling it.
The Blue Devils had announced that head coach Mike Krzyzewski will miss the game against the Seminoles. Coach K had to follow the “standard quarantine protocol” after coming into contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. But now Duke has announced that the game has been postponed.
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NEWS: Coach K will miss tomorrow’s game at FSU pic.twitter.com/lQeyRiQa92
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) January 2, 2021
The team already flew to Tallahassee without Coach K, with associate head coach Jon Scheyer set to take charge. But now they will have to return since their next game is a home encounter against Boston College. But the likelihood of Duke playing this game seems low in light of these events.
Will the Duke Blue Devils’ men’s team follow what the women’s team did?
After their game against Illinois, Coach K hinted that the NCAA should consider stopping the season. He admitted that it didn’t feel right to have the season going on despite the coronavirus situations. Multiple games have been canceled and postponed, but the season is still going on.
Krzyzewski also spoke about how the students were missing out on family time during the holidays. He said, “A lot of kids aren’t gonna be able to go home for Christmas; probably a time where they should for mental health. We’re just plowing through this.”
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COLUMBIA, SC – MARCH 24: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils watches his team warm up before taking on the UCF Knights in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Photos via Getty Images Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Later Duke canceled all their non-conference games, so students could spend the holidays with their families. The talks of Duke canceling their season arose after the women’s team announced their season being canceled a week ago.
If the cases just keep increasing, it is a risky move to keep playing. So the decision to cancel their own season could be a smart move with regards to player and coaches health and safety.
The Blue Devils are bound to be criticized like Coach K was when he made that statement. The critics felt Coach K only said it because of his team’s loss, but although the timing might have been bad, the intent is not.
