Duke to face Miami without Zion for the third time in a row

Duke will be missing first-year star Zion Williamson for the third straight game on Saturday at Miami's Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Williamson, the leader of the Blue Devils in the areas of rebounding, blocking and stealing, second-best scorer, was knee-injured in the first possession of Duke's defeat against North Carolina two years ago weeks. The injury was considered a first-year sprain and coach Mike Krzyzewski hinted that Williamson would return to the game at some point, but that the team was not setting a deadline for his recovery.

Without Williamson against Virginia Tech on Tuesday, Duke lost for the fourth time this season, with an obvious void at the base position.

"We are used to having Zion there," said Duke Cam Reddish's striker after the game. "He gives us everything we need, we try to adapt to not have it, and day after day we get there, but I hope we'll meet him again soon."

Duke still has three games to play before the ACC tournament: Saturday against Miami, Tuesday against Wake Forest and March 9 against rival North Carolina.