Yes, you read that correctly. Although it may seem ridiculous, the Florida State Seminoles have advanced to the semifinal round of the ACC tournament without even walking onto the court.
The reasoning? A positive COVID-19 test on the Duke basketball team. The Blue Devils may have racked up two wins against Boston College and Louisville in the earlier rounds of the tournament, but now they find themselves in deep water. College basketball’s most notorious blue blood came into Thursday on the NCAA Tournament bubble, and with an automatic forfeit, the team now risks the possibility of missing the big dance for the first time in over 25 years.
As one would expect, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski experienced serious disappointment in the aftermath of the news.
As Krzyzewski stated, “I feel deeply for our players, who have done a terrific job all season in taking care of each other and the team. We are disappointed we cannot keep fighting together as a group after two outstanding days in Greensboro.”
What’s Next for Duke Basketball?
The Blue Devils have a record of 13-11 (9-9), which qualifies as one of the program’s worst seasons under Krzyzewski. Although the school still has a shot at earning an NIT bid, the Blue Devils will most likely not accept that opportunity. When asked about the basketball program today, Duke AD Kevin White expressed a melancholy attitude.
As White stated, “ One member of our program tested positive following Wednesday’s ACC Tournament game in Greensboro, as a result, this will end our 2020-21 season.”
What’s Next for Florida State Basketball?
With Duke now out of the way, the Seminoles will face the winner of today’s matchup between North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The ‘Noles are expected by many to be a fringe 4 or 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, that’s open to change in the near future. If the ‘Noles can capture a second straight conference tournament, a 3 seed won’t qualify as beyond the realm of possibility.
It’s worth noting that the ACC is still one of the best conferences in college basketball. If FSU can defeat the likes of Virginia, they can defeat anyone. The Seminoles are still in prime position to make a run in the big dance, dare I say even win it all.