No Zion Tonight

BlueDevils725

Junior
Jan 12, 2015
348
292
0
Ok I’ve been optimistic all along about Zion returning, but I am officially in the camp that we may not see him play for Duke again.
I have that feeling too. I hope I'm wrong but, I highly doubt we'll see him again. If he's not back for Wake, I just don't see him coming back in a highly competitive game like UNC.
 

timo0402

Heisman
Feb 24, 2009
13,868
13,709
57
Welp i was incorrect, i really figured he’d suit up. He’s been practicing
 

SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,336
10,579
68
K said he's coming back. All the reports keep sounding like he's getting better and better, so right now, I still think we see him again.
 
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duhondukie

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2010
1,901
1,038
0
K said he's coming back. All the reports keep sounding like he's getting better and better, so right now, I still think we see him again.
I am not trying to be a smart @** but did K actually say he was coming back? I may have missed that in some quotes.
 
Oct 7, 2004
11,113
724
0
I don’t believe this either. I believe he will return.

I’m just as disappointed as anybody-but he will play again this year. I don’t think they would’ve teased us about tonight if it wasn’t a real possibility.
 

dukedevilz

Heisman
Apr 3, 2002
15,637
19,600
0
He was just in the beginning stages of what Duke calls phase 4 of the 4-phase recovery. If you're not certain he's 100%, why on earth would you rush him back against Wake Forest? Duke ain't losing this game by less than 20 points. Marvin Bagley missed 4 games with a mild knee sprain last year, FWIW.
 

SwatX1

Heisman
Jan 4, 2011
8,336
10,579
68
I am not trying to be a smart @** but did K actually say he was coming back? I may have missed that in some quotes.

I could have sworn that he did say that.....but I might be wrong? You have me questioning myself now?
 

jcdevilfan

Senior
Jan 29, 2017
548
737
0
Ok I’ve been optimistic all along about Zion returning, but I am officially in the camp that we may not see him play for Duke again.

Hang in there my friend, I can't join you in that camp just yet. If he just entered Stage 4 of his recovery yesterday (?), he should be ready for contact practice tomorrow?! I believe the team has to be off tomorrow (following a game), then he should be practicing Thursday and play Saturday.
I have nothing to go on here, but in a 2 week recovery, each Stage should be approx. 3 days, if all goes well?
Even if he was borderline for this game, "K" would weigh on the safe side and give him the extra day or so to get right. We want him @ 100%, and if he is not playing Saturday, I might join you in your camp.
Just keep believing Duke fans, "IT'S GONNA BE OK"!
Go Duke!
OFC
 

duhondukie

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2010
1,901
1,038
0
I don’t believe this either. I believe he will return.

I’m just as disappointed as anybody-but he will play again this year. I don’t think they would’ve teased us about tonight if it wasn’t a real possibility.
Just playing the conspiracy theorist but do you think K knows he is not coming back but is not releasing the news to the media because he does not want to put Zion in that position with his teammates and media? Seems far fetched I know, but the thought has crossed my mind.
 

AlanInNJ

All-Conference
Feb 25, 2014
1,665
2,462
0
I am holding out hope that there is a master plan, one that has been agreed upon between Coach K, his staff, Zion and his camp. I think Zion's camp was trying to encourage him to hang 'em up and wait for the draft. I think K and staff obviously want him to play. I like to believe that Zion is such a competitor that he insisted on playing again in a Duke uniform even though his family is telling him not to do so.

Duke will finish out the regular season and play the ACC tourney without Zion. That's why we have been seeing lots of lineup changes and even Baker playing this year this late in the season. And we will be competitive in Chapel Hill and in the ACC tourney.

Zion will come back and play the NCAA tourney. And we will roll.

Pure speculation on my part. I don't have any inside info. I'm just a Duke fan who would love to see Zion play for us again.

Let's go Duke!
 

LetsGoDuke301

Heisman
Apr 4, 2009
71,736
24,706
0
K said he's coming back. All the reports keep sounding like he's getting better and better, so right now, I still think we see him again.
Yeah. I refuse to join some of my fellow Duke fans in the doom and gloom section. It sucks that he won't get to play in front of the home crowd again. But I think it has more to do with being on day 13 of a typically 10-14 day recovery process and it being against a team that Duke should handle without him. There is no reason to rush him back just because it is the last home game.

All indications are that he will return. If not, it would be a hell of a troll job by Krzyzewski. I don't get the folks questioning his return being against unc. Why? Remember, in high school he went up against a bunch of six foot nothing white boys. So we were told he was going to get a wake up call in his first collegiate game vs Kentucky. How'd that work out? If he is 100%, it won't matter who we play or where we play.
 

Lavar5150

Senior
Oct 17, 2001
592
641
63
what a bunch of eeyores. Why come back against wake vs. 3 more days of rehab and practice before UNC? Even if no UNC thats another week for the big games.
 

skysdad

Heisman
Mar 3, 2006
42,753
22,653
0
If anything with Zion being out and let make it clear there is nothing positive about he being out team last few games it's that we have some guys getting more pt. Of course they need to take advantage of it and produe. Even when Zion comes back the guys who produced will be given more minutes which we give our main core some needed rest when we may play 3 nights in a row. Of course all of you know this. Just thought Iwould post it. I sure hope he's back for the unc cheater u game. Don't you know their fans are loving this. OFC
 
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dukegrad02

Sophomore
Apr 3, 2006
1,203
146
0
At this point, I don't see a path to the 1 seed in the ACC tournament. I don't see a real difference between the 2 and 3 seed. So why play him tonight and why play him Sat? He gets 10 more days of rest / practice to be 100% sure before you go into any elimination games. He'll be back for the ACC tournament
 
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Duke Blu

All-Conference
Nov 7, 2017
3,536
2,368
0
Been through this waiting game before, regarding a transcendent talent, at Duke, expected to be #1. K will protect the young man but he will be back when it’s time. I have NO concerns of Zion no longer playing in a Duke uniform. None.
 

skysdad

Heisman
Mar 3, 2006
42,753
22,653
0
I think he will play again this year. I trust Coach K. But for some reason he does not return the we need Bolden to have games like he did against Miami and he does have it in him and for Alex and Jack to produce both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. Javin needs to be consistant in all phases and a Joey Baker production would be nice. Am I asking too much ? These guys can do it. OFC
 
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2 skerz 3_rivals208847

All-American
Mar 7, 2011
48,400
8,326
0
Zion is officially out tonight
 

K-oach Q

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2009
5,517
1,831
0
I would guess the ACC tournament at this point...there really is nothing to be gained against UNC on Saturday...the difference between a 2 seed and a 3 seed in the tournament is negligible....If UVA found a way to lose to Louisville however we may see him Saturday for a chance at the 1 seed...just my guess....
 

mo.st.dukie

Junior
Jan 20, 2007
4,460
311
0
So you have confirmation he has practiced

We have confirmation that he is in Phase 4 of 4 and that they didn't rule him out of the game until the day of. Why would those things be true, and we KNOW those are true statements, if he were not coming back at all? What proof and confirmation do YOU have that he won't play for Duke again other than the fact that as a fan you can't handle the unknown?
 
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Showenuff

Heisman
Nov 21, 2006
21,624
14,224
0
If he doesn't hit the court tonight we won't see him in the Nose Dome either. Sucks.