Duke basketball: COVID ends Blue Devils season, snaps incredible March Madness streak

Duke basketball is out of the ACC Tournament after one of their players tested positive for COVID-19.

It was a long shot for Duke basketball to reach the NCAA Tournament this year but their slim hopes have come to an end. The Blue Devils are out of the ACC Tournament after one of their players tested positive for COVID-19, Stadium’s Jeff Goodman was first to report the news that was later confirmed by the school.

Their season is over.

The program withdrew from the event Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after topping Louisville in the second round to advance to a quarterfinal matchup with Florida State.

This was the first positive COVID test for the program all season after the program was lauded for being one of the most careful following protocols. Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski released the following statement:

"“I feel deeply for our players, who have done a terrific job all season in taking care of each other and the team. I am extremely proud of their collective attitudes and effort, which could not have been stronger. We are disappointed we cannot keep fighting together as a group after two outstanding days in Greensboro. This season was a challenge for every team across the country and as we have seen over and over, this global pandemic is very cruel and is not yet over. As many safeguards as we implemented, no one is immune to this terrible virus.”"

Duke athletic director Kevin White’s statement on the end of the Duke basketball season and the steps the team took to follow medical experts and put safety first:

"“Unfortunately, after going an entire season with no positive COVID-19 tests among our men’s basketball student-athletes and coaching staff, one member of our program tested positive following Wednesday’s ACC Tournament game in Greensboro. After working with our medical professionals and following Duke and ACC Medical Advisory Group health, safety, and contact tracing protocols, the student-athletes on our team are now in quarantine. Since last March when the pandemic started, we have listened to our medical experts and always put safety at the forefront of any determinations regarding competition. As a result, this will end our 2020-21 season. We wish every team still playing college basketball good health and the very best during the next few weeks.”"

A three-game losing streak to end the regular season pretty much knocked Duke off the bubble, leaving the Blue Devils’ only path to March Madness through a deep run in the ACC Tournament. It looked as if Duke had figured out some things in their first two games, which also included an emphatic blowout of Boston College on Tuesday afternoon, but now we will never know how the Blue Devils would have fared against Florida State or if they could have gotten an at-large bid with just a run to the final.

“Unfortunately, after going an entire season with no positive COVID-19 tests among our men’s basketball student-athletes and coaching staff, one member of our program tested positive following Wednesday’s ACC Tournament game in Greensboro,” White said. “After working with our medical professionals and following Duke and ACC Medical Advisory Group health, safety, and contact tracing protocols, the student-athletes on our team are now in quarantine. Since last March when the pandemic started, we have listened to our medical experts and always put safety at the forefront of any determinations regarding competition. As a result, this will end our 2020-21 season. We wish every team still playing college basketball good health and the very best during the next few weeks.”

Duke will miss March Madness for the first time since 1995

The Blue Devils were a fringe tournament team to begin with, even after a win over a fellow bubbler in Louisville last night. That victory brought Duke to the fringe of next four out status, although a win over the Seminoles would have warranted a further examination of the Blue Devils’ resume.

Duke basketball’s streak of 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances will come to an end on Sunday. That run was the second-longest active streak and the second-longest streak in history, both trailing Kansas’ run of 30 straight trips to the dance.

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