The Duke men’s basketball team will not play its season-opening game against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday because of a positive coronavirus test within the Gardner-Webb team, Duke announced on Monday.
Per its website, the program made the decision after consulting with its medical personnel. The team said it hopes to reschedule the game with Gardner-Webb.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski has, throughout the preseason, promoted the idea of a league-only schedule for college basketball due to logistical and health concerns around COVID-19. After the NCAA announced its plans to host its tournament in one city last week — basketball officials have already discussed the concept with officials in Indianapolis — Krzyzewski again expressed his concerns about the Wednesday start date for college basketball.
NEWS: Our game Wednesday night vs. Gardner-Webb has been postponed following a positive COVID-19 test within the Gardner-Webb program.
Our season opener is now scheduled for this Saturday vs. Coppin State in Cameron (2 PM ET, ACC Network Extra).
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) November 23, 2020
The season-opening matchups involving standouts such as Duke, Arizona State, Baylor, Florida and Villanova have either been altered, canceled or postponed due to COVID-19.
“I’m glad that [the NCAA is] looking at different things, including I would hope they always keep in mind that if it did get bad, worse than what it is, that maybe you could have [the season] later,” Krzyzewski said last week. “I’ve always been a proponent of that, starting the season later.”