There is never a "good" time for a team to have its coach miss games. One game is too many. But for Duke to lose Coach K at the start of ACC play after a humiliating loss at Virginia Tech? Man oh man. The January outset for Duke: Mike Krzyzewski could miss anywhere from 7-10 games. His need for back surgery comes at an even more intriguing time in what's become an unprecedented season in his career.
And that's saying something. The man has been coaching since 1975.
First came the preseason injuries to freshman stars/potential lottery picks Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden. But now, remember, Grayson Allen is in the midst of an indefinite suspension, a punishment handed down and monitored primarily by Krzyzewski, who also stripped Allen of the honor of being a team captain.
With Krzyzewski set to have surgery on Friday, Duke not only enters into an uncertain window, but the Allen suspension -- and whenever it's going to end -- becomes harder to forecast in the here and the now. Will K's surgery induce an earlier-than-expected return for Duke's junior star?
I wrote on Saturday that Duke didn't lose its game (in ugly fashion) at Va. Tech because Allen wasn't on the floor. That remains true. Duke's issues run deeper than Allen's absence. But now this Coach K news brings a wave of urgency and chanciness to the program. The team is already in an anxious mode to win, and the Allen situation stands even taller and wider than the elephant in the room.
Coach K's return is up in the air; even Krzyzewski hasn't truly come to a firm idea on it. And now with him needing to go through surgery, and focus on his health first and foremost, you have to wonder if he should even remain in charge of Allen's situation from afar. And if so, how?
Duke does need Allen in order to be a complete team, a potentially all-time team. But the sense of mystery and irresolution with this Blue Devils squad has turned this season into a captivating saga. Allen's suspension being lifted could literally be announced on Tuesday ... or not until February. What's the right time? When Allen's head space is no longer in doubt. When he's ready. When he feels like he's truly moved on from his ugly proclivity for tripping opponents.
How can Krzyzewski truly know that after surgery, though, when he's not around the team in his usual fashion? Part of this will probably be related to his pain level and ability to be even "in the mix" in the days/weeks after his surgery. For the record, Krzyzewski's going to coach Duke's home game against Georgia Tech on Wednesday. Then Capel takes over for the home game vs. Boston College on Saturday.
It seems an easier decision to lift the Allen suspension before Krzyzweski goes under the knife. Because if it doesn't happen before then, then does interim coach Jeff Capel take the lead on monitoring and deciding on Allen? Will it be his decision entirely, and is Krzyzewski willing to sign off on something like that?
Some interesting questions are on the table and they are legitimate. Allen's trip and outburst in the Elon game became the most flammable college hoops story of this season. Less than two weeks later, his coach's back problem has become one of the most important, and now both issues are linked without a clear resolution in sight.
