Even after the Blue Devils came away with a hard-fought 78-69 win in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Duke faces numerous questions about the health of its roster. The Blue Devils utilized a six-man rotation once again Tuesday but will need to get healthy in the month of December with a brutal conference slate starting New Year's Eve.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski talked about his team’s various injuries following Duke’s win against the Spartans.
Allen continues to gut it out
The junior has nursed a leg and toe injury during the team’s first eight games and continues to play at much less than 100 percent. Although the guard has not missed a game for the Blue Devils, the junior has struggled with his shot and is shooting just 37.1 percent from the floor.
Just so you know, Grayson does not practice one second. So when he’s out on that court, that kid...it’s a gutty performance.
When we had back-to-back games up at Mohegan, he landed on the side of his toe during Penn State and we weren’t sure...he played. Then, warming up against Rhode Island, it didn’t look good. He said, 'I’ll play,’ but he limped the whole game. When we have a little bit of time in between, he just needs to rest it. And then it becomes good enough to play. But he can’t do anything.
Kennard and Jeter fully healthy
The sophomore duo has played a key role for Duke and both players seem completely recovered from their minor injuries. Kennard came into the season with a sore toe but has emerged as the Blue Devils’ most reliable scoring option. Jeter—who left the team’s game against Penn State two weeks ago with a left ankle injury—said following Tuesday’s win that he’s “back” and has “the same type of explosion.”
“Luke is healthy in the last three weeks. He was walking around in a boot for six weeks because of his toe.”
Blue Devil freshmen on the mend but no timetable in mind
Most of Duke’s highly-touted freshman class has yet to see the floor due to an assortment of leg injuries. Marques Bolden and Harry Giles have progressed from only wearing street clothes early in the season to warming up with the team before Tuesday’s game, but it is still unclear when exactly the duo and Jayson Tatum—who dressed but did not run during warm-ups—will return.
“We’re getting closer. Jayson had a good workout today. He’s close. You see Harry is warming up better. He just needs some contact. And Marques is moving along. We’re getting there, but it’ll be a while...We just have to keep playing our butts off and win like we have been.”
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