The fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils dropped their regular-season finale to the third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday night, but their spirits were immediately turned around with the announcement that freshman Zion Williamson is expected to return for the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament on Thursday against an opponent still to be determined:
Coach K says Zion back for Thursday game. First contact practice on Monday.
— Reid Forgrave (@ReidForgrave) March 10, 2019
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski made the announcement late Saturday, with Zion Williamson expected back after a five-game absence due to a knee injury suffered in the team's first meeting against North Carolina back on Feb. 20. There had been speculation Williamson would not return at all as a means of preventing further injury.
Williamson is heralded as the consensus likely No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2019 NBA Draft, having averaged 21.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks in just 28.2 minutes per game this season. He has gained national notoriety and pageantry for his jaw-dropping athletic feats in his 26 contests for the Blue Devils, listed at 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds.
Without Williamson in the fold, fellow freshman R.J. Barrett has shouldered the load for Duke, making his own case to be the first selection in this summer's draft. Barrett is averaging 23.4 points per game, having broken the ACC freshman scoring record during play Saturday with multiple games still to go in his season.
Barrett and Williamson were the No. 1 and 2 recruits in the nation last season, respectively, joining a Duke squad chock full of talent. By taking the court alongside one another, they have become one-stop shopping for many NBA front offices who are hoping that the odds are in their favor come lottery night.
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