Duke freshman forward Zion Williamson will miss his second game since suffering a Grade 1 right knee sprain, leaving the No. 2 Blue Devils to face No. 19 Virginia Tech on the road Tuesday, coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters on Monday.
Williamson, who injured his knee after his shoe exploded just a minute into Duke's game vs. North Carolina last week, missed the Blue Devils' 75-65 win on Saturday at Syracuse. He continues to be listed as "day-to-day" without a major timetable for his return.
Williamson is a national player of the year front-runner, averaging 21.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. He's also the potential No. 1 pick in June's NBA draft, leaving pro players and analysts to question whether the 6-7, 285-pound forward should call it quits for the rest of the 2018-19 season.
Duke's Zion Williamson, center, cheers after a basket from the bench during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. Duke won 75-65. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) (Photo11: The Associated Press)
"We would never play a kid who's not ready," Krzyzewski told the media Saturday after beating 'Cuse. "We would never play a youngster who didn't want to play. It's not about that. He wants to play. He loves being at Duke. …He doesn't like being injured. It's an injury you can get over in a shorter period of time. There's just a protocol that we have to go through to make sure he's completely ready."
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Despite falling to No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports' coaches poll, Duke remains the top overall No. 1 seed in the latest bracketology projection — based on an overall résumé that's decorated by two wins over fellow No. 1 seed Virginia. The Blue Devils will be assessed by the selection committee based on the team that enters Selection Sunday— with Williamson healthy or not.
With Williamson out, fellow projected lottery pick and POY candidate R.J. Barrett has helped carry the team. He finished with 30 points on 14-for-20 shooting in the win over the Orange on Saturday.
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