Report: Duke Basketball Suspending Nonconference Schedule Due To Covid-19

Two days after Mike Krzyzewski openly questioned whether college basketball games should be played right now amid the coronavirus pandemic, Duke men’s basketball isn’t planning on playing any more nonconference games, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.

“I would just like for the safety, the mental and physical health of players and staff to assess where we’re at,” Krzyzewski said after the Blue Devils lost 83-68 to Illinois at home on Tuesday in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge.

Coach K said that players not being able to go home for the holidays to stay in a closed-off environment in order to play games is bad for the athletes’ mental health.

“People are saying the next six weeks are going to be the worst,” Krzyzewski said. “To me, it’s already pretty bad. On the other side of it, there are these vaccines that are coming out. By the end of the month, 20 million vaccine shots will be given. By the end of January or in February, another 100 million. Should we not reassess that? See just what would be best?”

Duke is now 2-2 after falling last week to Michigan State in the Champions Classic. If the Blue Devils don’t play another nonconference game, they’ll be forgoing Saturday’s home game against Charleston Southern and a home matchup with Gardner-Webb on Dec. 19.

Duke is scheduled to begin its ACC schedule at Notre Dame next Wednesday.