You've read Caulton Tudor's best-case scenario for ACC teams next season should the top underclassmen in the league all decide they want to return and give the Horizon and Colonial leagues a run for NCAA tournament bragging rights next season.
Since every yin has its yang, we asked Tudor to consider the worst-case scenario and determine who would end up on top in the ACC next season following a mass exodus to the NBA's land of milk and honey, lockout or no lockout.
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving said late Thursday night that he doesn’t know whether he will return to the Blue Devils next season.
Irving is projected as one of the top picks in the NBA draft after a season that was interrupted for 3 ½ months because of an injury to his right big toe.
“Right now, I’m thinking about next year,” he said shortly after the game. “I’m not definitely guaranteeing I’m coming back. I’ll sit down with the coaching staff after the NCAA tournament and go from there.”
Duke will bring freshman guard Kyrie Irving off the bench Thursday night in the Blue Devils' NCAA regional semifinal game against Arizona, coach Mike Krzyzewski said today.
Sidelined since injuring the big toe on his right foot while playing against Butler on Dec. 4, Irving returned to the court Friday and scored a team-high 14 points in the Blue Devils' NCAA tournament opener, an 87-45 rout of Hampton. Preparing this afternoon for his team' departure for Anaheim, Calif., Krzyzewski said he has no plans to reinsert the talented freshman back into the starting lineup.
"We're good with who we're starting," Krzyzewski said.
CHARLOTTE -- Well, that was a tidy day’s work for the Duke Blue Devils.
With a comforting lack of drama, the top-seeded Blue Devils manhandled Hampton 87-45 today in their opening NCAA tournament game at Time Warner Cable Arena.
It was noteworthy for its efficient workmanship, the return of Kyrie Irving and the fact it moves coach Mike Krzyzewki within three victories of tying his mentor Bob Knight for the most wins ever by a Division I hoops coach.
updated 8 p.m.
CHARLOTTE – In less a half-minute Friday afternoon, freshman guard Kyrie Irving sent a shudder through teams in the NCAA tournament who suddenly face an even larger obstacle in Duke.
In his first game back from a toe injury that kept him out 3 ½ months, Irving got aggressive in the closing minutes with an 87-45 win over Hampton already wrapped up for No. 1 seed Duke at Time Warner Cable Arena.
CHARLOTTE – Shortly after announcing his return to Duke’s lineup, freshman guard Kyrie Irving stood on the wing firing up 3-pointers at Time Warner Cable Arena.
He was making them, so he backed up.
Irving hit two, three, four in a row. Soon his heels were out of bounds.
Swish.
CHARLOTTE - Freshman guard Kyrie Irving will return to Duke's lineup Friday in the Blue Devils' NCAA tournament opener against Hampton.
Irving, who has been out since injuring his right big toe on Dec. 4, will come off the bench and play limited minutes, said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
"I don't have a set number of minutes," Krzyzewski said.
DURHAM - Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving might play Friday in Duke's NCAA tournament opener, coach Mike Krzyzewski said today.
"There is a chance that he would play, but the decision won't be made for a few days," Krzyzewski said during his on-campus news conference to preview Duke's NCAA tournament opener.
Irving, who is recovering from an injury to his right big toe, practiced some with the team today. No. 1 seed Duke (30-4) meets No. 16 seed Hampton at about 3:15 p.m. Friday at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.
GREENSBORO – Duke freshman guard Kyrie Irving said Sunday afternoon that there is a chance he will return from a toe injury to play at some point during the NCAA tournament.
“I can’t really put a percentage on it,” Irving said. “It all depends on how I feel, and if the medical staff feels good about it.”
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was more cautious, saying Irving’s enthusiasm might have been fueled by the emotion of missing out on the Blue Devils’ 75-58 ACC tournament defeat of North Carolina.
GREENSBORO - Freshman guard Kyrie Irving is working out with Duke's basketball team again before the Blue Devils' ACC final game with North Carolina this afternoon, but will not play.
Irving suffered a toe injury Dec. 4 and has not played since. In addition to jogging and shooting, Irving performed some half-speed, one-on-one dribbling and defensive drills with walk-on Todd Zafirovski.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski has said there is no timetable for Irving's return and that the team is preparing as if Irving will not be available to the Blue Devils for the rest of the season.
