GREENSBORO, NC (AP) – Duke arrived at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in hopes of making an unprecedented run to extend his long streak of the NCAA Tournament.
Instead, the Blue Devils had to abruptly abandon the tournament and end the season due to a positive COVID-19 test and the consequent quarantine and contact tracking.
The ACC announced that the Blue Devils ’quarterfinal match against Florida’s No. 15 for Thursday night has been canceled. And athletics director Kevin White said Duke’s season is over, ending the streak of 24 consecutive NCAA Blue Devils appearances that began in 1996.
In a statement, White said the positive test for someone within the program came after Wednesday’s win over Louisville, the Blue Devils’ second win in as many days in Greensboro. Prior to that, there had been no positive tests all season for a player or coach, he said.
“Since last March, when the pandemic began, we have listened to our medical experts and have always put safety at the forefront of any competition decision,” White said. “As a result, our 2020-21 season will end. We hope that all the teams that continue to play college basketball are in good health and the best for the next few weeks. “
The Blue Devils (13-11, 9-9 ACC) did not meet their high standards, but coach Mike Krzyzewski said he loved this young team and had the honor of coaching it.
“We haven’t asked any more teams in our history and they deserve huge credit for handling it all like the exceptional youngsters they are,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “I feel deeply for our players, who have done a fantastic job all season taking care of each other and the team.
“I am extremely proud of their collective attitudes and efforts, which could not have been stronger.”
With Duke’s retirement, the Seminoles advanced to the ACC tournament semifinals to play with the North Carolina and Virginia Tech winner.
“I just think preparing for the unexpected is what we’ve been trying to do all year,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. “It’s unfortunate that we can’t play this game today. But we have to treat it in a mature way and just be happy that no one puts it at risk. “
In addition, Louisville issued a statement Thursday that said its tests were again negative after Duke’s game and did not anticipate any concerns about tracking contacts.
“Our group is tested on a daily basis and is on a path to having the necessary consecutive days of negative testing to be able to compete in the NCAA tournament,” the school said.
With Duke’s season over, this will be the first time since 1976 that both the Blue Devils and another blue-blooded basketball player, Kentucky, will not enter the NCAA. Wild cats lost its opener for the Southeastern Mississippi State Conference Tournament Thursday, securing the program’s first losing season since 1988-89.
Duke had not missed the NCAA tournament since the 1994-95 season, when Krzyzewski left the coach after complications from back surgery. Assistant Pete Gaudet took over, with that team finishing 13-18 a year after Duke had played the NCAA title game.
Prior to that, Krzyzewski had only missed the tournament at Duke only in his first three seasons, when he added a combined 38-47 and faced growing pressure to turn things around while North Triangle neighbors won. Carolina (1982) and North Carolina State (1983). NCAA Championships.
The first offer of the tournament came in 1984 and Duke won 37 games while reaching the NCAA finals two years later. He was the first in a remarkable seven Final Four race in nine years that included championships in 1991 and 1992. Krzyzewski’s teams claimed three more titles in 2001, 2010 and 2015.
This year opened with some of the same expectations, though a young roster didn’t have the same talent prepared for the NBA in recent years with names like Zion Williamson and Jayson Tatum.
The Blue Devils started the year at No. 9 in the AP Top 25, but were ranked in mid-January for the first time in nearly five years. They missed the typically annoying home advantage in a fanless Cameron indoor stadium and watched as Jalen Johnson left the freshman team in February to prepare for the NBA draft.
After an uneven loss to North Carolina rival, the Blue Devils knew they probably had to win the ACC tournament to extend the NCAA streak, although no team has won five games in five days in the tournament. They opened with a disproportionate win against Boston College and beat Louisville in the quarterfinals on Wednesday after losing both regular season games.
All the while, Krzyzewski said he focused more on developing a young group than on past successes.
“This will be worth it at some point if you stay,” Krzyzewski said after the February loss to Notre Dame. “He did it in 82 and 83, he did it in 95-96 and in 2006. There are times when in our program you have learned to appreciate the winners who have reached such a high level and how difficult it is to lose.
“And we, as a program, must learn this and continue to be grateful for what it takes to win. Don’t do it by not working hard or trying to improve. And that’s what we’re going to do. “
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