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Zion Williamson injury update: Will Duke phenom play vs. Virginia Tech?

By Brad Berreman

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 20: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils warms up prior to their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 20: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils warms up prior to their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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It’s not surprising, but Duke forward Zion Williamson will indeed miss Tuesday night’s game against Virginia Tech.

After his Nike gave way early in last Wednesday night’s game against North Carolina, Duke freshman forward Zion Williamson escaped with a Grade 1 sprain in his right knee. He missed last Saturday night’s game against Syracuse, a 75-65 win for the Blue Devils, with at least one more missed game a virtual certainty.

Duke will play No. 20 Virginia Tech on the road Tuesday night. On a media conference call Monday, coach Mike Krzyzewski confirmed Williamson won’t play against the Hokies.

Williamson is considered day-to-day, with no official timetable for his return. But optimism seems high he’ll be able to return before the regular season ends, partially with the rematch against North Carolina coming in the regular season finale March 9.

After the Virginia Tech game, Duke has home games against Miami (12-14, 4-10 in ACC play) on Saturday and Wake Forest (10-16, 3-11 in ACC play) next Tuesday. Williamson probably won’t be needed to win either of those games, but if he were to return before the rematch against the Tar Heels the game against the Demon Deacons might be a good bet.

The top of the ACC is tight, with Duke, North Carolina and Virginia all tied for first place at 12-2 in conference play right now. And Virginia Tech, at 10-5 in the conference right now, will linger in the race for the conference title if they can pull an upset of the Zion-less Blue Devils on Tuesday night.

After the game against Syracuse, Coach K was adamant that Williamson would not return before he’s ready as he rehabs his injury. The idea of shutting down for the season apparently has not come up with Williamson or his family.

“We would never play a kid who’s not ready,” Krzyzewski said. “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.”

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The Final Four is in Minneapolis this year. The previous two times, 1992 and 2001, Duke was there and won the national title. Barring something unforeseen, Williamson will be ready in plenty of time to help make it three national titles in as many trips to Minnesota for the final games of the season.

Williamson remains listed as day-to-day and the earliest he could return is Saturday’s game at home vs. Miami.