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GREENSBORO, NC (AP) – Duke has arrived at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament hoping for an unprecedented run to extend his long NCAA tournament streak.
Instead, the Blue Devils suddenly had to withdraw from the tournament and end their season due to a positive COVID-19 test and the resulting quarantine and contact tracing.
The ACC announced that the Blue Devils’ quarterfinal game against Florida State No.15 on Thursday night has been called off. And athletics director Kevin White has said Duke’s season is over, ending the Blue Devils’ 24-game streak in the NCAA that began in 1996.
In a statement, White said the positive test for someone on the program came after Wednesday’s win over Louisville, the Blue Devils’ second victory in as many days at Greensboro. Prior to that, there had been no positive tests all season for a player or coach, he said.
“Since the start of the pandemic last March, we have listened to our medical experts and have always put safety at the forefront of any competitive decision,” White said. “As a result, this will end our 2020-21 season. We wish all of the teams that still play college basketball good health and the best in the coming weeks. “
The Blue Devils (13-11, 9-9 ACC) have not lived up to their high standards, but coach Mike Krzyzewski has said he loves this young team and is honored with the lead.
“We haven’t asked for more of any team in our history, and they deserve huge credit for handling everything like the exceptional young men they are,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “I feel deeply for our players, who have done a great 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 semi-finals of the ACC tournament to face winner North Carolina-Virginia Tech.
“I just think preparing for the unexpected is what we try to do throughout the year,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. “It’s a shame we can’t play this game today. But we have to face it in a mature way and just be happy that no one is in danger.
Additionally, Louisville released a statement Thursday saying his tests came back negative after Duke’s game and did not anticipate any problems with contact tracing.
“Our group is being tested daily and on track to have the required consecutive days of negative tests 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 the Blue Devils and another basketball blueblood – Kentucky – will not be in the NCAAs. The Wildcats lost Thursday, their opening of the Southeastern Conference tournament at Mississippi State, securing the program’s first losing season since 1988-89.
Duke hadn’t missed the NCAA tournament since the 1994-95 season when Krzyzewski retired from training due to complications from back surgery. Assistant Pete Gaudet took over, with this team finishing 13-18 a year after Duke played in the NCAA title game.
Previously, Krzyzewski had only missed the tournament from Duke in his first three seasons, when he got a 38-47 combined and faced increasing pressure to change things as Triangle neighbors Carolina North Carolina (1982) and North Carolina State (1983) both won. NCAA Championships.
The first tournament bid came in 1984, and Duke won 37 games while reaching an NCAA final two years later. It was the first in a remarkable series of seven Final Fours in nine years that included championships in 1991 and 1992. Krzyzewski’s teams won three more titles in 2001, 2010 and 2015.
This year has opened with some of the same expectations despite a young team lacking the same talent ready for the NBA in recent years with names like Zion Williamson and Jayson Tatum.
The Blue Devils started the year ninth in the AP’s Top 25 but were unranked in mid-January for the first time in nearly five years. They lacked the typically rowdy field advantage in a fanless Cameron Indoor Stadium and saw Jalen Johnson leave the freshman squad. in February to prepare for the NBA Draft.
After an unbalanced loss At their North Carolina rival, the Blue Devils knew they likely had to win the ACC tournament to extend the NCAA streak, even though neither team has won five games in five days at the tournament. They started with an uneven victory over Boston College, then beat Louisville in the quarterfinals on Wednesday after losing both regular season games.
Throughout, Krzyzewski said he focused more on developing a young group than on past successes.
“It will pay off at some point if you stick with him,” Krzyzewski said after a February loss to Notre Dame. “He did it in 1982 and 83, he did it in 1995-1996, and he did it in 2006. There are times in our program where you have learned to appreciate the victory that has come to pass. such a high level and how hard it is to lose. .
“And we, as a program, have to keep learning that and keep enjoying what it takes to win. You don’t do this by not working hard or trying to improve yourself. And that’s what we’re going to do.
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