Mike Krzyzewski will miss the No. 20 Duke clash against No. 18 Florida State in Tallahassee on Saturday after contacting 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 “to observe the standard quarantine protocol after being exposed to an individual who was not in the COVID-19 positive test travel group.” Jon Scheyer, associate head coach and former Duke highlight, will be the acting head coach.
After suffering a 15-point home loss to Illinois on December 8, Krzyzewski expressed concern about the season’s progress during the pandemic. He later announced that his team would cancel the 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 over COVID-19.
This is not the first time that Duke has competed without Krzyzewski. He lost a game during the 2017-18 and 2015-16 seasons, respectively, because of illness. He lost a month during the 2016-17 season after back surgery. And Blue Devils had to end the second half of the 1994-95 season without Krzyzewski after back surgery.