Zion Williamson had the whole basketball world buzzing when he went down with an unfortunate knee injury in the first minute of Duke's game against North Carolina on February 20th. Williamson broke through his shoe and sprained his knee. Since then, Blue Devils have gone 3-3 and have been falling in the NCAA rankings. Duke should be hopeful though as Williamson is expected to play tonight in the first game of the ACC tournament against the Syracuse Orange.
"I think we'll get Zion back for Thursday," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters over the weekend. "He worked out this morning — again, no contact — but Monday, there will be. Hopefully, we'll get a couple good days of practice where he can be 5-on-5, and then see how that goes. But the way he looks right now, I think it's just a matter of getting in shape, getting in game shape, and going forward."
Student newspaper the Duke Chronicle also confirmed that Zion is expected to play tonight. Despite missing just under six full games now, Krzyzewski doesn't expect the team's chemistry to be negatively affected at all.
"These guys will react quickly," he said. "It depends on Zion, his shape, but I think they'll respond real quick."
The game against Syracuse goes down tonight at 9 P.M. EST.