Duke is poised to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. The Blue Devils (13-11) were a reeling bubble team hoping for an at-large bid and trying to claim the ACC's automatic bid by winning the league tournament.
But then a positive COVID-19 test prompted athletics director Kevin White to declare that the team's season was over Thursday. Coach Mike Krzyzewski issued a season-ending statement praising his players' resiliency through adversity, and the story line was about Duke's omission from March Madness.
White, who is retiring in August, is the head of the 10-member selection committee.
Now, we're seeing hints that the aforementioned story line could change — just in time for Selection Sunday. ESPN reported that Duke could still play in the NCAA Tournament if selected by the committee.
A person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports that Duke's chances of playing in the NCAA Tournament are very "fluid" and contingent on what direction the committee goes near the bubble line. The person requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.
Here's where it gets tricky. As an at-large team, the Blue Devils' credentials are nowhere near good enough to be included in the field of 68 due to a low win count and just two Quadrant 1 wins.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the "first four out" list of snubbed teams takes on extra weight this season. In past years, those four teams would be No. 1 seeds in the consolation NIT Tournament. Instead, those four teams will be alternates on standby should a COVID-19 situation develop with one of the 68 teams selected.
So, there's a glimmer of hope for Blue Devils' fans that Duke sneaks into the alternates on standby — meaning we could see the blue-blood of all blue-bloods, after all.
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