Mike Krzyzewski updates status of AJ Griffin ahead of Sweet 16

As Duke prepares to face Texas Tech in the Sweet 16, head coach Mike Krzyzewski provided an important injury update on freshman forward AJ Griffin. He told reporters that the starter will play through an ankle problem on Thursday.

The injury update on AJ Griffin places Duke at full strength in its starting lineup going into the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Alongside point guard Jeremy Roach, shooting guard Trevor Keels, power forward Paolo Banchero and center Mark Williams, Griffin has been a regular in the starting five this season.

The five-star recruit came to Duke as the No. 23 overall player in the On3 Consensus, and is currently projected as a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Griffin averages 10.3 points and 3.9 rebounds this season while shooting 45.5 percent from the 3-point line.

Griffin is also the son of former NBA player and current Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, who attended Seton Hall before his professional career.

AJ Griffin injury

Following a bucket that put the Spartans back within two points, the Duke Blue Devils had to attend to forward AJ Griffin as the freshman went down with an apparent lower left leg injury. Griffin went down on the court and clutched his left ankle as Coach K and the trainer came to check him out.

After a trip to the bench, Griffin taped up his left ankle and gave a thumbs up, signaling that the injury would not be severe.

Duke trailed Michigan State 70-69 with 3:43 left to play in the round of 32 matchup. Griffin was 3-7 from the field with seven points, three rebounds and two assists so far. He posted 10 points in 33 minutes in the round one game versus Cal State Fullerton.

The Blue Devils went on to win that game and book their place in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. They now return their best 3-point shooter for the upcoming game.