Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski acknowledged Tuesday that Kyrie Irving may return to the Blue Devils during the NCAA Tournament.
“There is a chance Kyrie will play,” Coach K said, according to a Tweet from the Duke Chronicle.
Irving’s return would definitely bolster Duke’s chances of repeating as NCAA champions. Though just a freshman, he is arguably their best player and will likely be among the top several picks in June’s NBA Draft.
Irving, a West Orange, N.J. native, has been out since he injured his right big toe Dec. 4 against Butler.
“There’s a possibility of it happening,” Irving said Sunday after Duke’s 75-58 win over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament championship, according to The Herald Sun. “I’m not sure. I can’t put a percentage on it, but we’ll see.”
Duke (30-4) is the No. 1 seed in the West Regional and will open tournament play Friday against Hampton in Charlotte.
According to the Herald Sun, Irving is wearing a Nike-designed special shoe that protects his toe from bending awkwardly and causing additional damage.
“I’m not really worried about damaging it again because the special shoes that I wear will prevent my toe from actually going back as far as it did when I hurt it the first time,” Irving told the paper. “The shoes I’m wearing now will definitely prevent it.”
(photo courtesy ACC Insider)
