Coach K leaves game at halftime following being attended to by trainers

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski did not return to the sideline after halftime of Duke’s home game against Wake Forest on Tuesday night. According to The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, he was attended to by trainers multiple times before the break.

UPDATE: Mike Krzyzewski will not return after his halftime absence, as confirmed by Duke athletics on social media. The team says that he “is not feeling well.”

In his absence, head coach in waiting Jon Scheyer has moved over to the chair normally occupied by his mentor and is calling out plays for the team. Duke held a double-digit lead when Krzyzewski left the game but Wake Forest fought back in the second half.

UPDATE: According to ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Rece Davis, who is calling the game, Krzyzewski remains in Cameron Indoor Stadium’s locker room during the second half.

Krzyzewski already missed some time earlier this season, against Wake Forest, with a non-COVID illness. He left Jon Scheyer in charge of all duties then, allowing him to taste the future as Duke’s head coach. The plan coming into the season was for Krzyzewski to coach one more season with Scheyer learning the role under his mentorship before retirement this offseason.

Mike Krzyzewski on coaching staff

In his final season, Mike Krzyzewski has placed an added emphasis on promoting his assistant coaches to perform key tasks which will play a role in continued success after his departure. With associate head coach Jon Scheyer getting his first taste of head coaching last month and the uncertainty on the sideline which comes during the COVID-19 pandemic, every member of the staff is getting their chance to shine.

The latest name dropped by Krzyzewski as a name to watch is associate head coach Chris Carrawell, who has worked with the big men since 2018. Aiding him this season is new director of player development and former Duke star Amile Jefferson.

“Chris Carawell is going to be a gem of a head coach at some time,” said Krzyzewski. “He’s a gem of an associate head coach. And we’ve been gifted with Amile, he’s been able to coach because C-Well was out for three weeks with a knee replacement and then I’m out. We’ve got to keep getting people not out, but it’s given him a chance to have an impact on the team.”