Mike Krzyzewski will lose the match Duke no. 20 against the state of Florida no. 18 in Tallahassee on Saturday, after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced on Friday night.
The team said Krzyzewski did not travel to Florida with the Blue Devils and will be excluded “for complying with the standard quarantine protocol after being exposed to a person who is not part of the travel group that tested positive for COVID-19.” . Jon Scheyer, Duke’s associate and former head coach, will be the interim head coach.
After suffering a 15-point loss at home to Illinois on December 8, Krzyzewski expressed concern about the progress of the season during the pandemic. He later announced that his team would cancel its remaining non-conference games.
Duke, 3-2 in five games, has not played since his 75-65 victory over Notre Dame on December 16 – his only game since losing to Illinois.
Duke’s women’s basketball team recently canceled its season amid concerns about COVID-19.
This is not 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 in the 2016-17 season after back surgery. And the Blue Devils had to finish the second half of the 1994-95 season without Krzyzewski having surgery on his back.