Mike Krzyzewski will play the matchup of No. 20 Duke against No. 18 Florida State in Tallahassee after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced Friday night.
The team said Krzyzewski did not travel to Florida with the Blue Devils and would be set aside “for compliance with standard quarantine protocol after being exposed to a person who was not in the tour group and who tested positive for COVID-19. ” Jon Scheyer, associate head coach and a former Duke highlight, will be the acting head coach.
After a 15-point home loss against Illinois on Dec. 8, Krzyzewski expressed concern about the season during the pandemic. He then announced that his team would cancel the remaining non-conference games.
Duke, 3-2 to five games, has not played since the 75-65 win over Notre Dame on December 16 – the only game since the loss against Illinois.
Duke’s women’s basketball team recently canceled the season over concerns about COVID-19.
This isn’t the first time Duke has competed without Krzyzewski. He missed a game during the 2017-18 and 2015-16 seasons respectively due to illness. He missed a month during the 2016-17 season after back surgery. And the Blue Devils had to finish the second half of the 1994-95 season without Krzyzewski after back surgery.