Mike Krzyzewski will miss Duke’s No. 20 game against Florida State No. 18 in Tallahassee on Saturday after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced Friday night.
The team said Krzyzewski was not traveling to Florida with the Blue Devils and would be left out “for observing the standard quarantine protocol after being exposed to a person who was not part of the travel group and tested positive for COVID-19. “. Jon Scheyer, associate head coach and former Duke standout, will be the acting head coach.
After suffering a 15-point loss at home to Illinois on December 8, Krzyzewski expressed concern that the season was advancing during the pandemic. He later announced that his team would cancel the remaining games without lectures.
Duke, 3-2 in five games, has not played since the 75-65 win over Notre Dame on Dec. 16, the only game since his loss to Illinois.
Duke’s women’s basketball team recently canceled its season amid concerns about COVID-19.
It’s not the first time Duke has competed without Krzyzewski. He lost one game during the 2017-18 and 2015-16 seasons, respectively, due to an illness. He was missing 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 being taken to back surgery.